JP2006031732A - Signal input device and force-electricity transducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain continuous operations of a cursor on both the present picture and another picture and to accurately point out an icon area of the latter picture that is not shown at present without depending upon the operational characteristics of operators. <P>SOLUTION: A pad type input part 5 detects two-dimensional position and the magnitude of the depression force at a pressure point on the basis of the pressing force caused by the input from an operator, the detected position and force are applied to an encoding means 14 via a signal amplifier means 13, so that the two-dimensional coordinates of the pressure point and the pressure coordinates based on the pressure force are detected. On the other hand, a domain register means 15 registers respective partitions on each of a plurality of pictures 8 as a domain group 11 of three-dimensional position domains, the position domains are compared with respect to the output of the encoding means 14 by a comparison correspondence means 17, representative positions 12 are assigned to the coincident position domains of the group 11, and an input from the pad type input part 5 is accurately made to correspond to the two-dimensional domain of the plurality of pictures 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a signal input device and a force-electric conversion device that recognize a human fingertip operation or palm operation and convert a force into an electric signal to generate a signal. In particular, the present invention relates to a structure of a pointing device that recognizes an operation of applying a pressing force applied by a human fingertip, inputs a signal to a personal computer, and displays a corresponding image on a display.

  In recent years, when operating home appliances such as televisions and air conditioners, and information devices such as personal computers, remote controllers and keyboards with a large number of operation buttons are usually used. However, pointing devices that are attached to these input devices and move the cursor on the screen are widely used.

  These signal converters such as remote controllers and pointing devices are generally equipped with conductive rubber (force-electric transducers) at the bases of a large number of spatially spaced buttons. When a pressing force is applied to the conductive rubber, a predetermined electric signal is generated, and a preset command is realized.

  It is also possible to realize a predetermined command by simultaneously pressing a plurality of these buttons. In this case, a new signal is generated by electrically superimposing the pressing force detected by the force-electricity conversion element after individually converting it into an electric signal. That is, when dealing with a signal converter, there are commands that can be realized by the operation of one finger and commands that are realized by operating a plurality of fingers simultaneously.

  As another form of the operation function of the signal conversion device, there is a method of intermittently pressing the same button a plurality of times, measuring the number of times, and assigning it to a command.

  In the future, home appliances and information devices tend to become more multifunctional, but there is a limit to the number of buttons that can be prepared on the surface of the signal conversion device. Therefore, complicated operations such as an operation of simultaneously pressing a plurality of buttons and an operation of pressing the same button a plurality of times as described above are required.

  However, such a conventional signal conversion apparatus has the following problems.

  In a conventional remote control or pointing device, one ferroelectric conversion element corresponds to one button. Therefore, for example, when a plurality of buttons are prepared on the electromechanical transducer, a signal when the user's finger cooperatively operates the plurality of buttons is spatially expressed as a resultant force. Therefore, it was impossible to distinguish the positional relationship between buttons.

  Further, even in the method of intermittently pressing the same button a plurality of times, the force-electricity conversion element can only detect the resultant force of the pressing force as described above, so that only the same effect as when one button is prepared can be obtained.

  Some of the above pointing devices have the function of detecting the movements of the operator's arms and fingers, converting them into electrical signals, and inputting them into devices. Until now, computers called mice and trackballs have been used. A game device or a game device called a joystick has been mainly used.

  Recently, with the spread of portable personal computers and the like, a signal input device that directly detects the movement of the fingertip of the operator and inputs it to the personal computer is used in order to improve the operability. It has become to. This device generally has a structure in which conductive rubber and other force-electrical conversion means are arranged in a plane and receives a pressing force of a human fingertip that traces the conductive rubber and converts it into an electric signal. The operator performs a sub-operation using such a pointing device in parallel with the keyboard operation as the main operation.

  Normally, the pointing device having such a structure reads a temporal change in the movement of the fingertip of the operator and executes an operation on the currently presented screen. For example, in the case of a planar conductive rubber pointing device, if the operation target is a cursor on the screen, there is a method that controls the moving direction and moving speed of the cursor according to the direction and speed of movement of the finger. It is common. In this case, the above input operation is performed regardless of the pressing force of the fingertip applied to the pointing device.

  On the other hand, when using a rod-shaped head as a pointing device used in games, etc., a pressure-sensitive element using a gauge for detecting distortion is often used for the base, and in this case the direction of movement of the cursor and The speed is determined by the direction and strength of the pressing force applied by the operator to the rod.

  In the case of conventional pointing devices, there is no problem if you just move the cursor on the screen that is currently presented, but like a mouse, you can match the cursor with an icon at a predetermined position and double-click or When selecting an icon by a single click and shifting to another operation, an operation corresponding to some kind of click is required.

  In the case of a configuration using conductive rubber as the pointing device, it can be realized by pressing the same place with a fingertip at a short time interval, that is, by quickly hitting it. On the other hand, in the configuration of the rod-shaped head, a switch is separately provided for input corresponding to the click operation. This is also the case with the conventional trackball system, and a click switch is essential.

  As described above, in the pointing device, it is possible to use it as it is when the cursor is moving mainly on the currently presented screen, but when switching the screen and entering the next operation, Some kind of operation or operation means to reach it is necessary. That is, when two consecutive operations are connected, an operation for shifting the operation between the two operations is indispensable. This is the same even when an icon for determining one operation extends over two screens, and an operation for calling a hidden screen is required.

  In addition, when the arrangement positions of icons on the screen continuously presented are different, it is necessary to temporarily stop the cursor movement on the first screen and move the cursor to a necessary place again after the screen switching operation. That is, the cursor movement across the two screens always requires an intermittent sequence. For example, even if the position of the icon after switching the screen is predicted, it is necessary to move the position of the cursor for accurate operation, and it is almost impossible to omit this operation. On the other hand, even when returning to the original screen, the operation is exactly the same, and the current situation is that the operation across the two screens cannot be performed continuously and reversibly.

  Further, for example, even if a pointing device capable of predictive operation is prepared, it is expected that it is difficult to correctly specify an icon on the screen that is not currently presented. In addition, the operator side has its own unique habit and pressure characteristics when operating the pointing device, and the optimal settings for a specific operator are not appropriate for other operators. There is a problem. For this reason, it is extremely difficult to accurately perform an icon prediction operation on a hidden screen.

  The cause of the problems described above can be attributed to the layering at the time of software creation. The point cannot be ignored. For example, in conductive rubber, low resolution of pressing force remains as a fundamental problem. On the other hand, in principle, the pressure-sensitive element cannot give a planar position indication, and is not suitable for absolute position designation because the direction and magnitude of the pressing force are converted into two-dimensional information. There is a problem.

  That is, the conventional pointing device has a problem that only two-dimensional information can be obtained as reproducible information, and simultaneous operations on screens other than the current presentation screen are almost impossible.

  FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing an application example of the signal input device of the first conventional example. As shown in the figure, the notebook personal computer 1 is composed of an operation unit 2 and a display unit 3. The operation unit 2 is provided with a keyboard 4 and a pad type input unit 5 as a pointing device. A screen 8 is arranged on the display unit 3. A plurality of icons 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68 are displayed on the screen on the display unit 3, and are arranged so as to be selectable by the pointer 7.

  The pad-type input unit 5 uses conductive rubber, and moves the pointer 7 on the screen 8 in response to the movement of the fingertip of the operator.

  Now, an operation of moving the fingertip on the pad-type input unit 5 to the arrow B and overlaying the pointer 7 on the screen 8 on the icon 64 will be described as an example.

  The basic unit of the moving speed of the pointer 7 on the screen 8 is determined by a preset coefficient, but the actual moving speed is defined by the frequency with which the fingertip traces on the pad type input unit 5. Actually, since the size of the pad type input unit 5 is considerably smaller than the size of the screen 8, even if the pad type input unit 5 is traced along the arrow B1, the pointer 7 is only the arrow A1. It does n’t move. For this reason, the operator traces the pad type input unit 5 along the arrow B1 a plurality of times, moves the pointer 7 on the screen 8 in the order of the arrow A2, the arrow A3, and the arrow A4, and sets the target icon 64. It is necessary to bring it to the position. That is, the operator needs a plurality of operations when the pointer 7 is moved once. Actually, since the pointer 7 is moved while depending on the sensibility of the operator, the pointer 7 is brought straight to the target position on the screen 8 as in the example of FIG. This is difficult, and the position of the icon 6 is reached through many paths while moving the fingertip in various directions on the pad type input unit 5.

  FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing an application example of the signal input device of the second conventional example. In the signal input device of this example, a matrix type pressure sensitive element is arranged under the pad as the pad type input unit 5, and the pressing position on the pad is set to correspond to the position of the pointer 7 on the screen 8. The one with the structure is used.

  The pad-type input unit 5 is configured to obtain a pressed position by a fingertip based on detection values of a plurality of pressure-sensitive elements arranged in a matrix, and the fingertip on the pad-type input unit 5 Can be made to correspond to the position of the pointer 7 on the screen 8.

  As a result, when the pointer 7 is to be positioned on the icon 64, the pointer 7 is brought directly on the icon 64 on the screen 8 as shown by the arrow A5 by bringing the fingertip to the position C1. It is possible.

  However, in the actual screen operation, as shown in FIG. 26, hierarchized hidden screens 81, 82, 83 are prepared in addition to the actual screen 8. In some cases, multiple screens may overlap and be displayed on a single screen. In any case, the screens 81, 82 and 83 are hidden behind the actual screen 8.

  In this case, in the work mainly involving the operation of the icon 6 on the screen 8, even when the screen 8 is switched to the screens 81, 82 and 83 and a series of work is performed, a command for switching the screen 8 is usually input. Since the desired screen 81, 82, 83 is selected and the pad type input unit 5 is operated based on the icon of the new screen, no major problem occurs.

  However, if you are familiar with a series of operations, the screen switching operation may hinder the work efficiency, and it is more efficient to switch the screen by directly operating the icon 6 on the hidden screen. It is considered good. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 26, the position of the icon 6 on the screen 8 and the position of the icon 6 on the screen 81, 82, 83 hidden behind the screen may be almost the same. No special training or skill is required to predict the position of the icons on the back screen.

  In such a case, it is more special to switch the screen by directly specifying the icon 6 of the screen 81, 82, 83 from the top of the screen 8 by changing the pressing force of the fingertip applied to the pad type input unit 5. It is thought that the work efficiency will be higher than the intervention of simple switching work.

  In this case, the person who actually operates the pad type input unit 5 is a human, and even if the location of the position C2 can be specified, the pressing force of the fingertip is set for each of the plurality of screens 8, 81, 82, 83. Therefore, it is considered difficult to specify the force difference of the pressing force. However, if the detection resolution and reproducibility of the pressure-sensitive element of the pad type input unit 5 are sufficient, the designation of the screen can be technically realized.

  However, even if the pressing force can be controlled well and the screens 8, 81, 82, 83 can be selected, the direction in which the pressing is applied becomes a big problem. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, even if a pressing force is applied to the same position C2 on the pad type input unit 5, if the pressing direction is different for each operation from the arrows D1, D2, and D3, naturally the pointer 7 The designated position is also different for each screen, and the position of the pointer 71 on the screen 81, the position of the pointer 72 on the screen 82, and the position of the pointer 73 on the screen 83 are incorrect. As a result, it is impossible to achieve the work by continuously switching the screen while positioning the pointer 7. In addition, if the operator changes, this type of work becomes even more difficult.

  As can be seen from the above, conventionally, it has been impossible to assign a relatively large number of commands to the number of buttons. Furthermore, as described above, the conventional signal input device can perform limited information input in a two-dimensional direction with a certain degree of accuracy, but operates while switching between two or more screens. In this case, there is a problem that accurate operation is impossible because it depends on the operation characteristics of the operator and the characteristics of the pressing force.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a signal conversion apparatus that can assign a relatively large number of commands to the number of buttons and that can perform work sensuously. Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and to enable continuous cursor operation on both the currently displayed screen and another screen, and is currently presented. An object of the present invention is to obtain a signal input device that can accurately specify an icon area that is not displayed on another screen without depending on the operation characteristics of the operator.

  In the present invention, in the signal conversion device having a pressure receiving portion that receives pressure and a force-electric conversion element that is connected to the pressure receiving portion and converts pressure received by the pressure receiving portion into an electric signal, the force-electric conversion element is at least 4 The signal converter is provided with two unit elements, and these unit elements are fixed to a member having sufficient rigidity with respect to the pressure received by the pressure receiving portion.

  Moreover, the unit element can be arranged in a matrix in the piezoelectric conversion element. Moreover, you may form a some protrusion in the said pressure receiving part.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, a pressure receiving portion that receives pressure, a piezoelectric conversion element that includes at least four unit elements that are connected to the pressure receiving portion and converts pressure received by the pressure receiving portion into an electrical signal, and the plurality of units Based on an output signal from the base that is fixed to the piezo-electric conversion element so that the element has sufficient rigidity with respect to the pressure received by the pressure-receiving part, and the pressure received by the pressure receiving part The signal conversion device includes a calculation unit that associates information with a specific operation command.

  In addition, the arithmetic unit can be configured to add the electric signals converted by the unit elements in a vector manner.

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, each of the four unit elements detects the magnitude of the pressure, and performs signal processing using the virtual plane from these four pressure information, thereby obtaining the direction of pressure (pressure receiving pressure). It is also possible to know at which position of the part the pressure is acting.

  In particular, when the pressure information from these unit elements is virtualized, if the positional relationship between the unit elements changes, it becomes impossible to detect the pressure direction. Therefore, in the present invention, the detection accuracy can be ensured by fixing the piezoelectric transducer element to a member having sufficient rigidity.

  Therefore, in the present invention, since the pressure magnitude and the pressure direction can be assigned to one button, it is possible to set a relatively large number of commands for one button. Further, by devising the shape of the button ergonomically, it is possible to operate the target devices in a one-hand (finger) operation, and thus it is possible to perform an operation in a very sensory state.

  Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an input detecting means for detecting a two-dimensional coordinate of a pressure point and a pressure coordinate based on the pressing force from a pressing force accompanying an input from an operator, and the two-dimensional The present invention provides a signal input device comprising: coordinate detection means for detecting a position area arranged three-dimensionally from the coordinates and the pressure coordinates and assigning a representative point of each position area.

  In order to realize the above-described means, in the present invention, a planar force based on a matrix is used as a force-electric conversion element by using a matrix-type force-electric conversion element in which pressure-sensitive elements having excellent force decomposition ability are arranged in an array. One operation code is formed based on the three-dimensional information of the distribution information and the force information acquired by each pressure sensitive element.

  As a result, the operation code formed by the encoding means can be made to correspond mainly to the screen or hierarchy presented on the display and the cursor position on the screen.

  Therefore, all the screens, including the currently hidden screen, are divided into multiple areas, and the cursor that enters this area is automatically moved to a predetermined position in the area. The cursor can be quickly moved to a desired position on the screen.

  Furthermore, in addition to the three-dimensional operation code from the pointing device, the temporal change of this information is processed by the encoding means, so that the current screen or the hidden screen is being positioned. In addition, direct operation of other operation commands is enabled.

  The basic operation described above depends on the pressing force of the operator, but the optimum operability varies depending on the individual operator, and the automatic movement of the cursor to a predetermined position in the divided screen area. However, depending on the work contents, it is possible to realize good operability in any case by providing a means for registering and calling the cursor movement characteristics. .

Furthermore, the present invention provides a pressure receiving unit that receives a pressing force as an input, a force-electric conversion unit that converts pressure information sensed by the pressure receiving unit into an electrical signal, and an image corresponding to the electrical signal converted by the conversion unit. A signal input device having a display for displaying
Between the force-electrical conversion and the display, the two-dimensional code relating to the display position of the image displayed on the display by any means and the arbitrary operation code as an unexpected code are electrically converted. Encoding means that can be specified simultaneously based on pressure information is provided,
An image composed of a current screen area obtained by dividing the video currently displayed on the display and a hidden screen area obtained by dividing the video displayed by an input operation that is not currently displayed. The space area has a function corresponding to a plurality of codes generated by the encoding means.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a pressing portion having a certain area to which a force as an input is applied,
A sensor unit that detects a force applied to the pressing unit and converts it into an electrical signal;
An information output device that outputs information including information on at least the magnitude of the force applied to the pressing portion and the position on the pressing portion from the electrical signal output by the sensor unit;
Based on the information output from the information output device, the characteristics of the force as the input are determined. Based on the determination result, the switching setting of the changeover switch, the display of the result on the screen, the indication position An arithmetic unit that performs arithmetic operations for realizing various functions such as display,
Have
The arithmetic unit is at least
A repetitive calculation control unit that performs control so as to perform a predetermined calculation process every time a predetermined time elapses,
A cumulative calculation unit that cumulatively calculates values according to the magnitude and position of the input pressure and outputs the calculation results;
A subtraction operation unit that removes a certain value from the cumulative operation result and outputs the operation result; and
A division unit that divides the output from the subtraction operation unit by a preset value and outputs a result; and
An adder for adding the output of the division unit to the current indicated position and outputting the result as a new indicated position;
The cumulative calculation unit, the subtraction calculation unit, the division unit, and the addition unit are configured to be time-controlled by the repetitive calculation control unit.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a pressing portion having a certain area to which a force as an input is applied,
A sensor unit that detects a force applied to the pressing unit and converts it into an electrical signal;
An information output device that outputs information including information on at least the magnitude of the force applied to the pressing portion and the position on the pressing portion from the electrical signal output by the sensor unit;
Based on the information output from the information output device, the characteristics of the force as the input are determined. Based on the determination result, the switching setting of the changeover switch, the display of the result on the screen, the indication position An arithmetic unit that performs arithmetic operations for realizing various functions such as display,
Have
The arithmetic unit is at least
When the change in the pressing position is large, the pressing force is small, and the change in the pressing force is small, the input mode is judged as mode A, the change in the pressing position is small, the pressing force is large, and the pressing force is large. Change the input mode to mode B when there is little change in
A mode determination unit that determines that the input mode is mode C when the change in the pressing position is large, the pressing force is large or small, and the change in the size is large;
When the mode determination unit determines that the input mode is mode A, the indication position is determined on the assumption that the pressing force and the pressing position correspond to the moving speed of the indication unit,
When the mode determining unit determines that the input mode is mode B, the pressed position corresponds to the position of the indicating unit, and the indicated position is determined. The mode determining unit determines that the input mode is mode C. A pointing position calculation unit that determines the pointing position on the assumption that the pressing force and the pressing position correspond to the acceleration of the pointing position;
It is comprised as what has.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1A, 1B, and 1C are a side view, a plan view, and a rear view, respectively, according to a first embodiment of a signal conversion apparatus of the present invention.

  The signal conversion apparatus A in the present embodiment includes a housing 101 that is large enough to be grasped by one person with one hand (sized as a known remote controller). The housing 101 includes a grip portion 101a having a substantially conical shape and an operation portion 101b adjacent to the grip portion 101a and having a plurality of slits. Further, a signal transmission unit 102 that irradiates an infrared signal to home appliances and information devices is disposed on a side surface of the operation unit 101b.

  A plurality of elongated pressure receiving portions 103 are provided in a projecting manner on the operation portion 101b. FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the pressure receiving portion 103. The pressure receiving portion 103 has a contact surface 103a that forms the tip of the pressure receiving portion 103 protruding from the operation portion 101b and is connected so as to draw a gentle arc as a whole in consideration of the movable range of a human finger. Then, it has an integrated structure. That is, the pressure receiving portion 103 is made of a single member formed in a comb-teeth shape. In addition, a ferroelectric conversion element 104 is attached to the lower surface of the root portion 103 b of the pressure receiving portion 103.

  Four unit elements 104a to 104d are formed in the ferroelectric conversion element 104 by fine processing. The unit elements 104a to 104d are made of, for example, a silicon diaphragm formed on a silicon wafer by a technique such as etching. Each of these unit elements 104a to 104d detects a pressing force and generates an electric signal. Although not shown here, a signal processing unit for processing the generated detection signal is provided inside the housing 101, and the processed signal is emitted from the signal transmission unit 102 to the outside. ing.

  A space filled with, for example, silicon oil is formed between the upper surfaces of the unit elements 104a to 104d and the lower surface of the root portion 103b, and the pressure received by the contact surface 103a is transmitted to the unit elements 104a to 104d. To play a role. In addition, an electrode is provided around the silicon diaphragm, and pressure signals detected by the unit elements 104a to 104d are output.

  The force-electric conversion element 104 has no problem when the unit elements 104a to 104d are formed on a silicon wafer, but is relatively rigid when it is made of a material that is strong in bending and distortion. It is preferable to fix to a high member. For example, a method is conceivable in which the base 105 to which the ferroelectric conversion element 104 is fixed is a highly rigid member.

In the signal conversion device A configured as described above, when a human presses the contact surface 103a of the pressure receiving unit 103, it is possible to detect which position of the contact surface 103a is pressed with what force. Hereinafter, an example of the force detection method of the present invention will be described.
First, the mechanism of the ferroelectric conversion element 104 will be described with reference to FIG. Now, as shown in FIG. 3A, a unit of electromechanical transducer 104 in which unit elements 104a to 104d are arranged in a 2 × 2 matrix is used, and the surface (detection region) of the electromechanical transducer 104 is the same. the portion P _a that marked in Fig. (b) and pressurized with a force of P (in order to simplify the description, the pressure receiving portion 103 is planar.). The force information of the pressurizing unit A is output as detection signals p1 to p4 of the four unit elements 104a to 104d.

Here the position of the pressure P _A as shown in FIG. (C), the coordinates on the plane X, Y, the distance from the coordinate center L, and the direction (direction of action of the force) from the X-axis θ It prescribes as Then, the X direction component of the force P acting on the pressurizing part A is expressed by the following equation using the unit elements 104a to 104d.

P (x) = (p3 + p4) − (p1 + p2) (1)
Similarly, the Y-direction component of the force P acting on the pressurizing part A is expressed by the following equation using the unit elements 104a to 104d.

P (y) = (p1 + p3) − (p2 + p4) (2)
From the ratio of P (x) and P (y), the acting direction θ of the force P is expressed as the following equation.

θ = Tan 1 (P (y) / P (x))
= Tan 1 ([(p1 | p3) (p2 | p4)]
/ [(P3 | p4) (p1 | p2)]) (3)
Next, as shown in FIG. 4D, a virtual plane 106 stretched by vectors of output values p1 to p4 of the unit elements 104a to 104d is assumed, and a normal having a starting point at the center of gravity of the virtual plane 106 is assumed. Let α be the angle that the vector makes with the direction (Z direction) component perpendicular to the detection area plane. L is determined by making the magnitude of α correspond to the distance L from the center in the detection region shown in FIG.

  In general, a plane is defined by three points in space, but in the present invention, the virtual plane 106 is defined from four vector-like points as described above. That is, since the plane is originally determined by three points, the other one point is subordinately determined, but the present invention adopts a configuration in which the plane is intentionally defined by four points. Therefore, in the present invention, the piezoelectric conversion element 104 is formed of a highly rigid silicon wafer, and the unit elements 104a to 104d are designed not to bend or distort. As a result, an accurate detection value can be obtained. Of course, if the base 105 to which the electromechanical transducer 104 is fixed is a highly rigid member, the same effect can be obtained.

  Here, as the relationship between L and α, for example, the one shown in FIG. 4 can be adopted. Both can be defined linearly (primary curve) as shown in FIG. 10A, or both can be defined as a quadratic curve as shown in FIG. Note that it is considered that the optimum value of the relationship between L and α varies depending on individual differences and work contents of each person who handles the signal conversion device. Therefore, multiple patterns are prepared to improve the position detection accuracy of the pressurizing part A and to reduce fatigue during work, and the optimal pattern is selected at the appropriate time during system startup and operation. You may be able to do it.

  Finally, the magnitude of the force P acting on the pressurizing part A is defined by the sum of absolute values of the unit elements 104a to 104d as in the following equation.

P− | p1 | + | p2 | + | p3 | + | p4 | (4)
As described above, the output signals from the unit elements 104a to 104d are processed and the mutual relationship is obtained, so that it is possible to detect how much force is applied to which position in the detection region.

  These series of signal processing are performed in the information output device 107 described later.

  As described above, the signal conversion device of the present invention includes the four unit elements 104 a to 104 d in the piezoelectric conversion element 104, and has sufficient rigidity with respect to the pressure that the unit elements 104 a to 104 d receive at the pressure receiving portion 103. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, each of the four unit elements 104a to 104d detects the pressure magnitudes p1 to p4, and uses the virtual plane 106 from the four output values p1 to p4. It is also possible to know the direction of pressure (which position of the pressure receiving portion 103 is acting on) by adding to the signal processing.

In particular, when the pressure information from these unit elements is subjected to vector addition processing to form a virtual plane, if the positional relationship between the unit elements changes, it becomes difficult to detect the pressure direction. Therefore, in the present invention, the detection accuracy can be ensured by configuring the piezoelectric transducer to be held in a highly rigid state.
Therefore, in the present invention, since the pressure magnitude and the pressure direction can be assigned to one button, it is possible to set a relatively large number of commands for one button. Further, by devising the shape of the button ergonomically, it is possible to operate the target devices in a one-hand (finger) operation, and thus it is possible to perform an operation in a very sensory state.

  Also, in the case of a structure having a plurality of protrusions (contact surface 103a) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is possible to detect how much pressure is applied to which position of which protrusion.

  In the above description, the angle α is defined as “an angle formed by a normal vector having a starting point at the center of gravity of the virtual plane as a component perpendicular to the detection area plane (Z direction)”. It can also be defined as “an angle formed by a normal vector having an origin at the origin of the XY coordinates and a direction (Z direction) component perpendicular to the detection region plane”. In this case, although the above-described calculation is slightly different, the same function can be exhibited as a signal conversion device.

  Here, as a preferred example of the usage form of the signal conversion apparatus A shown in FIG. 1, a method of reproducing image information recorded on a video tape, a digital video disk, or the like will be described. As can be seen from the shape of the pressure receiving portion 103, a usage method is conceivable in which the image reproduction speed is changed by the user moving the contact surface 103 a of the signal conversion device A to the left and right. This method of use can be performed with a sense close to the page turning operation of a book.

  (A) The finger movement speed is made to correspond to the reproduction speed of the image information. When the finger is moving quickly, the playback speed is increased, and when the finger moves slowly, the playback speed is decreased. Also, when the movement of the finger is stopped, the playback operation is also stopped and a still image is displayed. Of course, reverse playback is also possible in the direction in which the time axis is reversed.

  It is also possible to reflect the finger pressing force on the reproduction speed. First, the pressure when the finger is stopped is detected, and as the pressure at this time increases, the initial acceleration when the finger moves is set larger.

  By using such a usage method, image information over a long period of time (for example, a movie or the like) can be handled extremely sensuously by using the movement of a finger, and a target image can be quickly accessed.

  (B) The position where the pressure is applied is associated with the command. For example, a playback operation is performed when the right side of the pressure receiving unit 103 is touched, a reverse playback operation is performed when the left side is touched, and a stop operation is performed when the vicinity of the center is touched. Further, the reproduction speed is changed according to the pressure level.

  If such a usage method is used, the playback speed changes even when the finger is stationary at a single point, so that the image can be handled sensuously as in the case of (A).

  In addition, the signal converter of this invention is not limited to such a utilization method, Various utilization methods can be considered. In particular, what kind of position information and force information is assigned to each button may be arbitrarily determined according to the application object.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the following embodiments, the same components as those in the above-described embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the shape of the piezoelectric element and the arrangement of the unit elements.

  That is, the electro-electrical conversion element 104 used in the signal conversion device B of the present embodiment is formed long in the connecting direction of the contact surface 103a of the pressure receiving portion 103, and unit elements are equally spaced along the longitudinal direction. 104a to 104d are formed.

  Even in the signal conversion device B having such a configuration, the position generated on the contact surface 103a is pressed by the amount of force by processing the signal generated by the ferroelectric conversion element 104 in the same procedure as in the above-described embodiment. Can be detected.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The feature of the present embodiment is that the contact surface of the pressure receiving portion is formed as a single surface. That is, only a single slit is formed in the operation unit 101b of the casing 101 of the signal conversion device C, and the contact surface 103a of the pressure receiving unit 103 protrudes from the slit. Further, the contact surface 103a has a convex cross-sectional shape with the center raised along the longitudinal direction.

  In addition, the shape of the piezoelectric transducer 104 in this embodiment may be that of any of the above-described embodiments.

  Thus, even if the signal receiving device 103 has a simple shape, the force contact surface 103a can be obtained by processing the signal generated by the force-electricity conversion element 104 in the same procedure as in the previous embodiment. It is possible to detect which position of the throat is pressed with how much force.

  Subsequently, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  As in the third embodiment, the present embodiment is common in that there is one contact surface 103a of the pressure receiving portion 103. However, the width of the contact surface 103a is as thin as several millimeters, and has a substantially linear shape.

  In addition, the shape of the piezoelectric conversion element 104 in this embodiment may be that of any of the above-described embodiments.

  Even in the signal conversion device D having such a configuration, by processing the signal generated by the ferroelectric conversion element 104 in the same procedure as in the above-described embodiment, which position of the contact surface 103a has how much force. Can be detected.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the pressure receiving position can be easily identified because the area of the contact surface 103a is small, so that the pressure receiving position can be reliably detected.

  Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the contact surface 103a of the pressure receiving portion 103 has a dot shape, and is arranged so as to form a substantially rectangular surface as a whole.

  In addition, the shape of the piezoelectric conversion element 104 in this embodiment may be that of any of the above-described embodiments.

  Even in the signal conversion device E having such a configuration, by processing the signal generated by the electro-electrical conversion element 104 in the same procedure as in the above-described embodiment, which position of the contact surface 103a has how much force. Can be detected.

  In this embodiment, the contact surface 103a is formed in a small dot shape, and instead of assigning a command to each of the contact surfaces 103a, the entire contact surface 103a is used as one command command surface. be able to. For example, a substantially rectangular surface formed by the contact surface 103a can be assigned to a personal computer screen and used as a tool for instructing the moving direction or moving speed of the cursor. Hereinafter, the case where the signal conversion apparatus of the present invention is applied to cursor movement on a personal computer will be described in detail.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a control configuration when the signal conversion apparatus of the present invention is applied to a personal computer or the like.

  In the drawing, the pressure receiving portion 103 is drawn in a planar shape, which means that the point-like contact surface as shown in FIG. 8 forms a plane as a whole. That is, the pressure receiving unit 103 includes a set of points and lines arranged two-dimensionally, or a virtual surface formed by a set of lines arranged one-dimensionally (see FIG. 1).

  The information output device 107 outputs information such as the magnitude and position of the pressure acting on the pressure receiving unit 103 from the signal output from the ferroelectric conversion element 104. Expressions (1) to (4) described above are calculated in the information output device 107. In addition, a mode setting dedicated signal can be obtained from another sensor unit (not shown) and output as a switch signal.

  The calculation unit 108 receives a signal from the signal output device 107 and determines an operation intended by the operator based on information such as the magnitude and position of the pressure. Then, a signal for setting a changeover switch based on the determination result, displaying the result on the display 110, or displaying the designated position as the cursor position is generated.

  The operation unit 108 includes a mode determination unit 108a, a conversion device 108b, and a preprocessing unit 108c.

  Based on the output signal from the information output device 107, the mode determination unit 108a extracts some commands that the operator seems to have intended, determines the most likely command among them, and outputs it as a mode signal.

  The conversion device 108b reflects the information signal of the information output device 107 in the indicated position on the display 110 using a conversion algorithm according to the mode signal in accordance with the mode signal output from the mode determination unit 108a.

  Specifically, the mode determination unit 108 a corresponds to the “absolute position input mode” in which at least the pressed position information corresponds to the absolute position on the display 110, and the pressed position information corresponds to the relative position with the current position of the cursor on the display 110. The conversion device 108b associates the information signal of the information output device 107 with the indicated position on the display 110 by a conversion algorithm corresponding to the mode signal.

  The pre-processing unit 108c extracts, from the signal input from the information output device 107, for example, press history information such as the elapsed time from the start of pressing, the length of time without continuous pressing, or the moving speed of the pressing position (finger). By calculating, it is reflected in the calculation in the mode determination unit 108a and the conversion device 108b.

  The central processing unit 109 executes processing according to a signal from the processing unit 108 or displays it on the display 110. In addition, information is obtained from other signal converters (not shown), signals are output to output devices (eg, printers and disk devices) not shown, and signals are exchanged with other personal computers (information processing devices). To do.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the main operations performed inside the calculation unit 108.

  First, the magnitude and pressing position of the pressing force are input from the information output device 107 (S11).

  Next, for example, pressing history information such as the elapsed time from the start of pressing, the length of no pressing time, or the moving speed of the pressing position (finger) is calculated as preprocessing (S12). In addition, the past and present data necessary for the next and subsequent routines are recorded.

  In the mode determination (S13), the mode is determined based on the magnitude of the pressing force, the time change in the pressing position, the pressing position, the presence / absence of a switch signal for mode switching, the past mode change, or the like. FIG. 10 shows the determination of “absolute position input mode” and “relative position input mode” (S14), but other modes, such as single click and double click, which are known for normal mouse operations, etc. The mode may be determined. In this case as well, processing is performed in the same flow as in FIG.

  Next, the control is divided into “absolute position input mode” and “relative position input mode” by branching, and the indicated position on the display 110 is obtained from the pressed position (x, y) according to each algorithm (S15a, S15b). ).

  Then, the information on the designated position (x, y) is output to the central processing unit 109 (S16). If further signal processing is required, the process returns to the input routine again.

According to the conversion unit 108 having such a function, it is possible to perform a conversion called “absolute position input mode” in which, for example, the pressing unit is assigned to the entire display screen, and the cursor is moved on the display 110 greatly and quickly. It is also possible.
In addition to the above-described method, various determination items that serve as a reference for the mode determination (S13) are conceivable. These are preferably programmed in advance in the calculation unit 108 and set so as to be used as needed. Hereinafter, some examples of mode determination (S13) will be described.

  (A) The “absolute position input mode” is determined when the change in the pressed position is smaller than a predetermined value even after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of pressing.

  (B) The “absolute position input mode” is determined when the pressing force is larger than a predetermined value.

  (C) When the switch signal for mode switching is detected, the “absolute position input mode” is determined.

Among these determination methods, the methods (a) and (b) can instruct the “absolute position input mode” without performing any particular switch operation, so that the operability for the user is greatly improved. These determination methods can also be used in combination, and the operability is further improved if the user can freely set them.
Next, some examples of position conversion (S15a, S15b) will be described.

  (D) In the “absolute position input mode”, the distance between the cursor position on the display corresponding to the pressed position and the current cursor position is detected, the speed proportional to this distance is calculated, and the indicated position is pressed Conversion is performed so as to approach the position on the display corresponding to the position.

  (E) In the “absolute position input mode”, conversion is performed so that the indicated position approaches the position on the display corresponding to the pressed position so that the speed gradually increases (or decreases) as time elapses. Do.

  (F) In the “absolute position input mode”, conversion is performed so that the indicated position approaches the position on the display corresponding to the pressed position at a predetermined constant speed.

  (G) In the “absolute position input mode”, conversion is performed so that the indicated position is set to a position on the display corresponding to the pressed position regardless of the current indicated position on the display.

  (H) Conversion is performed so that the indicated position approaches the position on the display corresponding to the pressed position at a speed proportional to the pressing force.

  (I) Conversion is performed so that the indicated position approaches the position on the display corresponding to the pressed position at a speed obtained by adding the pressing force.

  Among these determination methods, the methods (h) and (i) can quickly move the cursor to a target position if the user intentionally increases the pressing force. Therefore, it is possible to intuitively reflect his / her will in the designated position operation. Further, the operability can be further improved by performing conversion by combining the methods (d), (e), and (f) with the methods (h) and (i).

  In addition, in relation to these determination examples performed in the position conversion (S15a, S15b), another determination example that can be performed inside the central processing unit 109 shown in FIG. 9 will be described.

  (J) When the indicated position comes closer to the position on the display corresponding to the pressed position than the predetermined distance, the “absolute position input mode” is switched to the “relative position input mode”.

  (K) When the indicated position is closer to the position on the display corresponding to the pressed position than a predetermined distance, the conversion coefficient of the “absolute position input mode” is switched. The conversion coefficient referred to here is the maximum value when the entire contact surface 103a is allocated to the entire display surface. When only a partial range of the display is allocated, the conversion coefficient is set. Set smaller. Thereby, it is possible to easily change the moving speed and positioning accuracy of the indicated position.

  (L) When the indicated position reaches the position on the display corresponding to the pressed position, the “absolute position input mode” is switched to the “relative position input mode”.

  (M) When the indicated position reaches the position on the display corresponding to the pressed position, the conversion coefficient of the “absolute position input mode” is switched.

  These four determination methods are suitable for performing a positioning operation with higher accuracy at the final stage of the “absolute position input mode”. The input mode is automatically switched to the “relative position input mode” or “absolute Change the conversion coefficient of “position input mode”. By performing such switching, the cursor positioning operation can be performed more smoothly and reliably.

  Further, the operability can be further improved by combining the determination examples performed by the central processing unit 109 with the determination examples in the mode determination (S13) and the position conversion (S15a, S15b). In particular, it is more preferable to execute the methods (j), (k), (l), and (m) in combination with (d), (e), (f), (h), and (i).

  Next, other operations inside the calculation unit 108 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. A feature of the control operation shown in FIG. 11 is that virtual inertia conversion (S15c) is adopted. The other operations are the same as the operations shown in FIG.

  In the mode conversion (S13), a “virtual inertia mode” is newly prepared as one of the determination criteria. In the “virtual inertia mode”, an object having inertia that does not actually exist is assumed, and a virtual reality in which force is applied to the object through the pressing surface is formed. This creates a virtual reality where the user rolls (or slides) while applying force to the virtual inertial object by, for example, sliding the finger in the horizontal direction while applying force to the pressing surface, Gives the sensation that a virtual inertial object is rolling even after you release your finger.

  When this is reflected in the indicated position (cursor position), for example, when the indicated position is to be changed greatly and rapidly, the user can easily change the indicated position by quickly moving the finger while applying a large pressing force. become.

  In FIG. 11, the “virtual inertia mode” is positioned in parallel with the “relative position input mode” and the “absolute position input mode”, and any one is selected. However, for example, the “virtual inertia mode” in the “relative position input mode” may be set so that a plurality of modes are activated simultaneously. The simultaneous use of these modes is also preferably set so that it can be arbitrarily selected according to the user's work contents and the like.

By using such a “virtual inertia mode”, it is possible to further improve the operability of the user and realize a signal conversion device that moves at the user's will.
Hereinafter, another example of determination that can be performed inside the central processing unit 109 when the “virtual inertia mode” is set will be described.

  (N) When the pressing is stopped after the pressing force is applied, the moving speed of the indicated position depends on the pressing force during pressing and / or the value depending on the moving speed of the pressing position and the time from the pressing stop. And / or calculate the indicated position.

  (O) In addition to the above (n), when the pressing is stopped after the pressing force is applied, the value set in advance is multiplied by the time from the pressing stop, and the indicated position is moved according to the calculated value. Calculation is performed so that the speed is reduced. Thereby, it is possible to realize a virtual reality as if the frictional force is working.

  (P) When the end of the display is reached while the indicated position has speed (moves), the calculation is performed so that the indicated position comes to the position folded at the end of the display. . As a result, it is possible to realize a virtual reality as if the end of the display is reached while the pointing position is slipping (or rolling), as if it bounces off at the end. This can be implemented in combination with the determination examples (n) and (o).

  (Q) When reaching any end of the display while the indicated position has speed (moving), the indicated position moves from the opposite end of the screen as a continuation of the end. Perform the operation. Thus, unlike the determination example of (p), it is possible to realize a virtual reality that appears again from the opposite end when the end of the display is reached while the indicated position is slipping (or rolling). it can. This can be implemented in combination with the determination examples (n) and (o).

  As described above, by adopting the configuration as shown in FIG. 9 to FIG. 11, it is possible to quickly change the mode of the indicated position, ensure positioning, Enables input operations close to physical phenomena. Therefore, the operability of the user can be greatly improved such that the operation approaches a sensory one.

  Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  Compared with the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the present embodiment is arranged such that the contact surface 103a of the pressure receiving portion 103 forms a substantially circular surface as a whole. Further, a part of the housing 101 is a circular groove 101d so as to correspond to the outer shape of the contact surface 103a, and it is devised so that the user can easily operate with a finger.

  Even in the signal conversion device F having such a configuration, it is possible to determine which position of the contact surface 103a is pressed with how much force by processing the signal generated by the electro-electrical conversion element 104 in the same procedure. It can be detected.

  In the present embodiment, the entire shape of the contact surface 103a is designed to be a substantially circular surface, but it goes without saying that this shape can be designed freely according to the shape of the operation target. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to the information processing device such as a personal computer described above.

  Subsequently, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The present embodiment is characterized in that the contact surface 103a of the pressure receiving portion 103 has a substantially annular shape as a whole, and there is one in the central portion. All of the contact surfaces 103 a are connected to a common root portion 103 b and are fixed on a single ferroelectric transducer 104.

  Even in the signal conversion device G having such a configuration, it is possible to determine which position on the contact surface 103a is pressed with how much force by processing the signal generated by the electro-electrical conversion element 104 in the same procedure. Can be detected.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, different commands can be assigned to the contact surface arranged at the center and the contact surfaces arranged around the center. For example, it is used as a function that modifies the former command by applying a pressing force received by the latter to the command assigned to the former.

  Each of the above-described embodiments can be widely applied as home appliances such as a remote controller or as information devices such as a personal computer.

  Moreover, although the element provided with four unit elements was illustrated as a ferroelectric conversion element, as long as the number of unit elements is four or more, it does not matter. For example, nine unit elements may be arranged to form a 3 × 3 matrix, or 16 unit elements may be arranged to form a 4 × 4 matrix. Even in such a case, the pressing position and the pressing force can be detected based on the method as shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an application example of the signal input device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a case where two screens 81 and 82 are hidden under the screen 8 on the display unit 3 is shown. In each screen, an icon 6 to be selected by the pointer 7 is arranged, but each icon 6 is arranged in an area 10 partitioned by a boundary line 9 virtually provided in the screen 8.

  Now, from the state where the pointer 7a is superimposed on the icon 6a of the screen 8, the screen 81 is selected and switched to the state where the pointer 7b is superimposed on the icon 6b. Further, the screen 83 is selected and the pointer 7c is superimposed on the icon 6c. Consider switching to a state.

  First, with the pointer 7a overlaid on the icon 6a on the screen 8, a pressing force corresponding to the screen 81 is applied to the position C of the pad type input unit 5 (in this case, the position corresponding to the icon 6b of the screen 81). As a result, the screen is switched to the screen 81, and the pointer 7b comes to a position overlapping the icon 6b.

  Although ideally as described above, depending on the angle of the fingertip of the operator, when the position C on the pad type input unit 5 is pressed, the position may be shifted to the position of the pointer 7b1 on the screen 81. . In this case, since the pointer 7b1 does not overlap with the icon 6b, the screen is not switched. This is because the screen 81 is hidden behind the screen 8 and visual feedback is limited, so this tendency tends to appear strongly.

  However, in the case of the signal input device of the present invention, there is an area 10 partitioned by the boundary line 9 on the screen 8, the icon 6a is assigned to the area 10a, the icon 6b is assigned to the area 10b, and the icon 6c is assigned exclusively to the area 10c. Is registered as an icon to be placed on the screen. As a result, even if the pointer 7b1 is specified so as to deviate from the icon 6b, as long as the pointer 7b1 is within the area 10b, it is considered that the icon 6b has been specified, and the subsequent screen 8 is switched to the screen 81. The designation of the icon 6b by the pointer 7b is automatically controlled.

  The same applies to the case where the screen 82 is selected with the pointer 7c. Even if the pointer is shifted to the pointer 7c1, the icon 6c is considered to be selected as long as it is in the area 10c, and the screen to the screen 82 is selected. Switching and designation by the pointer 7c of the icon 6c are controlled.

  Of course, when designing the screen, it is of course set in advance so that one icon comes in each area 10.

  FIG. 15 shows the content of FIG. 1 in a generalized manner. The space is divided into arbitrary region groups 11, representative positions 12 are set for each region group 11, and applied to the pad type input unit 5. Corresponds to the position and strength of the force being applied.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, since the screens 81 and 82 that are not currently presented are switched to the screen 8 and called, no special command is required to be input, only by the strength of the pressing force applied to the pad type input unit 5. The screen will be specified. On the other hand, since the position of the pointer 7 is regarded as the representative position 12 in the region group 11 regardless of which screen 8, 81, 82 is switched, it is caused by a subtle difference in the pressing force applied to the pad type input unit 5. Since the misalignment is also automatically corrected, the selection operation of the icon 6 by the pad type input unit 5 can be performed quickly.

  FIG. 16 is a system configuration diagram for realizing the signal input device according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the pad type input unit 5 receives signals corresponding to the position X coordinate position signal x, the Y coordinate position signal y, and the pressing force signal p based on the pressing position and pressing force of the fingertip of the operator. It is output and given to the signal amplifying means 13. The signal amplifying unit 13 has a function of separating and amplifying three-dimensional force information from the pad type input unit 5 according to a predetermined conversion rule and transmitting the result to the encoding unit 14. In this example, the two-dimensional coordinates (x, y) on the pad type input unit 5 and the force value (p) at the position are transmitted, and the combination of (x, y, p) is 1 A kind of code is defined.

On the other hand, the screen 8 displayed on the display unit 3 and the screen hidden behind are spatially defined as a region group 11 of the presentation screen. In each small region group 11, the representative position 12 is (X _i , Y _j , P _k ).

  That is, the relationship between the region group 11 and the representative position 12 is

で定義される。ただし、式１で、Ｘ_iSと、Ｘ_iEは座標軸Ｘにおける、領域群１１の各領域の開始点と終点であり、ポインタ７がこの領域内にあれば、代表位置１２のＸ_i であると見なされる。Ｙ_j 、Ｐ_k についても同様である。

Defined by However, in Expression 1, X _iS and X _iE are the start point and end point of each area of the area group 11 on the coordinate axis X, and if the pointer 7 is within this area, it is X _i of the representative position 12. Considered. The same applies to Y _j and P _k .

  In the area registration means 15, the area group 11 divided into n, m, and r in each direction and the value of each representative position 12 are registered. In general, the number of these area groups 11 is greater than the number of icons required for screen operation. When icons are arranged on the screen, an appropriate place is selected from the area groups 11 and arranged. To do. In this example, these correspondences are performed by the target coordinate setting means 16 that is the movement destination of the pointer.

  The three-dimensional force information determined by the operator's finger movement is converted into a significant command code [x, y, p] by the encoding means 14, which is in any region of the target coordinate setting means 16. The comparison handling means 17 determines whether the area corresponds to the area and whether or not the area has an icon.

  Whether or not these determination results are presented on the screen 8 and reflected in the operation of the device to be operated such as a personal computer is determined and executed by the registered / reproduction switching means 18.

  That is, if playback is selected by means prepared separately, the finger movement of the operator is actually reflected on the screen 8 that is the operation target as it is.

On the other hand, if registration is set for the registration / playback switching unit 18, the determination result by the comparison handling unit 17 based on the finger operation of the operator is displayed on the screen 8 via the registration / playback switching unit 18. At the same time, it is sent to the conversion coefficient registration means 19. The conversion coefficient registration unit 19 is connected to the encoding unit 14 and receives the signal [x, y, p] from the signal amplification unit 13 obtained by the operator's finger movement given to the pad type input unit 5. A function for encoding by the encoding means 14 is given. For example, for arbitrary values u ₁ , u ₂ , u ₃ , functions of v ₁ = f (u ₁ ), v ₂ = g (u ₂ ), v ₃ = h (u ₃ ) are used as conversion rules. Then, the conversion coefficient registration means 19 applies the function as described above to the result [x, y, p] of the ferroelectric conversion in the pad type input unit 5 and sets and registers it. For example, when the conversion coefficient registration means 19 is registered to apply the functions f, g, and h to the output [x, y, p] of the signal amplification means 13, the encoding means 14 outputs [f (x ), G (y), h (p)].

  These functions are applied to the signal given from the signal amplifying means 13 to the encoding means 14 and the applied result is compared with the contents of the target coordinate setting means 16 in which the icon position and the like are registered. The corresponding means 17 performs comparison and identification.

  The selection and application of the functions here are performed in response to comfortable force input that allows the operator to perform the operation as intended, but these are to absorb and optimize the individuality of the multiple operators. . Specifically, personal information recording means 20 is provided for each operator to empirically adjust or register a selected function, and based on this information, the conversion coefficient registration means 19 is provided. Will be registered. As a result, the operator can apply the conversion rule most suitable for him / her.

  In the above description, the time-series pattern of the pressing force applied by the fingertip input to the pad-type input unit 5 is omitted. However, in actuality, the operation following the area selection, such as a click operation, is time-series. A pattern of change in the pressing force is actively used as a command code.

In this example, in a manner similar to that register the 3-dimensional data relating to the applied location and pressure of the pressing force in the region register unit 15, a temporal change registration means 21, the force pattern data focusing on time variation of the pressing force F ₁ [X _i J (t), Y _j (t), P _k (t)]
It is registered in the form of This content is also transmitted to the comparison handling means 17 and compared with the output [x (t), y (t), p (t)] from the encoding means 14 taking into account the time variation of the operating force. It is connected to a predetermined operation. Note that the conversion rule regarding the time change can also be set and registered in the conversion coefficient registration means 19. Therefore, the operator can set the optimum operation environment by searching for the operation procedure most suitable for him / her and comparing it with the actual operation result and registering it in the personal information recording means 20.

  Note that the area registration unit 15 defines a screen space based on the actual screen 8 and associates the contents with the output results of the encoding unit 14, but instead of the screen space, an abstract multidimensional Spatial coordinate axes may be used. This can be applied to any case as long as it is physically independent or can be hierarchized, such as a file unit, a directory unit, or a media unit.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of a signal input device configured in a shape that allows one-hand operation, (A) is a front view, (B) is a top view (plan view), and (C) is a bottom view. (Back view). As shown in the figure, the apparatus includes a main body 22, an operation unit 23 operated by a finger, and an infrared transmission unit 24 for transmitting an operation result to the controlled device by infrared rays.

  This apparatus is configured to be operated by an operator holding it in his / her hand. The main body 22 is held by four fingers of an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger and a palm, and the operation unit 23 is operated by the thumb. . The operating portion 23 is provided with a projecting portion 25 that is arranged in an arc shape. Two-dimensional position information is input by the back and forth and right and left movement of the thumb. This information can be entered. That is, three-dimensional signal input is possible as in the case of FIG. This signal is encoded via a circuit similar to the encoding means 14 shown in FIG. 3, and is transmitted to the device to be controlled by infrared through the infrared transmitter 24. Such a remote commander can be directly applied to a television or the like.

  FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing functions by taking numerical values as specific input information in the configuration of FIG.

  First, the linear projecting portion 25 in the operation unit 23 is assigned to x-axis information. And the increase / decrease in a numerical value is operated by pushing the different protrusion part 25. FIG.

  In addition, the p-axis, which is the strength of the pressing force, is assigned to the information on the resolution of the number of digits. In other words, as the pressing force increases, a smaller digit can be selected.

  Further, the y-axis information obtained by applying a pressing force to the projecting portion 25 forward and backward enables an interrupt direct command to be specified. For example, it is used to determine the currently selected numerical value or switch the range.

Now, the pressing force is divided into light pressure p ₁ , medium pressure p ₂ , strong pressure p ₃ , and no pressure p ₀ with the finger released.

When the operator operates the protruding portion 25 left and right, that is, in the x-axis direction with a light pressure p ₁ , and stops the finger movement at a certain position E 1, a single number is presented with coarse resolution. As a result, for example, a numerical value (04000) is obtained.

If the finger pressing force is increased from this point to the medium pressure p ₂ and the finger is moved to the left or right, the numerical value increases or decreases with a resolution one digit smaller than the previous numerical value. Then, when the finger is stopped at the position E2, a state of presenting numbers with one minute resolution is obtained. As a result, for example, a numerical value (04200) is obtained.

Further, when the finger pressing force is increased to the strong pressure p ₃ and the finger is moved to the left or right, the numerical value is increased or decreased with a resolution one digit smaller than the previous numerical value. Then, when the finger is stopped at the position E3, a number with a fine resolution is presented. As a result, for example, a numerical value (04160) is obtained.

Here, when the finger is released from the projecting portion 25 and no pressure is p ₀ , the last digit is displayed and, for example, a numerical value (04165) is determined.

  In this case, the numerical value is determined by the routes R1, R2, R3, and R4 in the figure, but if you want to determine the numerical value at an intermediate digit, operate your finger in the front-rear direction, that is, the y-axis direction at that point. By doing so, it is possible to determine the numerical value with the coarse number of digits on the route R1a, R2a, R3a, R4a in the figure.

  In the examples shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, for example, an electronic book is operated with the same feeling as turning a page of an actual book, and selection on the screen of a multimedia device or a lot of specific media information is performed. This configuration is optimal for browsing operations that are selected while displayed on the screen.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of the pad-type input unit 5 shown in FIG. 14, in which (A) is a top view and (B) is a side view. As shown in the figure, a flat plate 27 is placed on four sensors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d, and a portion indicated by hatching is used as a pad-type input unit 5 as a surface to which pressure is applied. The four sensors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d detect the pressing force applied by the operator's fingertips applied to the pad type input unit 5. In this case, the detection information is the position and magnitude of the pressing force. . The detection information S1, S2, S3, and S4 by the sensors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d are processed as shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG.

  When a pressing force having a magnitude Nc is applied to a point Pc (Xc, Yc) on the flat plate 27, the direction 31 from the sensors 26a, 26b of the pressurization point Pc, that is, the applied pressure is determined from the output values of the sensors 26a, 26b. An angle θ2 formed by the pressure point Pc and the center point Pf where the sensors 26a and 26b are arranged is calculated.

  Similarly, from the output values of the sensors 26c and 26d, the direction 32 of the pressurization point Pc from the sensors 26c and 26d, that is, the angle θ3 formed between the pressurization point Pc and the center point Pg where the sensors 26c and 26d are disposed. Calculated.

  Therefore, the coordinates of the pressurization point Pc on the pad type input unit 5 can be obtained by calculating the two angles θ2 and θ3. Further, the magnitude of the input pressure can be obtained from the sum of absolute values of the pressing forces detected by the sensors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d.

  Further, by dividing the center point where the sensors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d are arranged, the coordinate position of the pressurizing point can be obtained with high accuracy.

  On the other hand, when the central points of the arrangement of the sensors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d are the same and this is one point, it is difficult to accurately obtain the coordinate position of the pressurizing point. This will be described below.

For example, as shown in FIG. 21, in the case of a structure in which the sensors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d are arranged at the center of the flat plate 27 to form the pad type input unit 5, as shown in FIG. The direction of the pressure point Pb from the center point of the arrangement of the sensors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d, that is, the angle θ1 formed between the pressurization point Pb and the center point can be obtained for all directions. Further, the distance lb from the center point of the pressurizing point Pb is calculated by converting the outputs of the sensors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d into the X direction component and the Y direction component.
X = S3 + S4-S1-S2
For the Y direction component,
Y = S1 + S3-S2-S4
calculate. After that, by dividing each combined force by the sum of the applied pressures as follows,
1b = (X ₂ + Y ₂ ) / (| S1 | + | S2 | + | S3 | + | S4 |)
From this calculation, the distance lb can be obtained.

  Similarly, when the pressing point moves to Pa, the angle θ1 and the distance la can be obtained.

  However, it is common that a joining member such as an elastic rubber or a spring is interposed between the sensors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d and the flat plate 27 provided on the sensor 26a. If this happens, the above may not be true.

  That is, when the center point shifts due to the deformation of the joining member, the fulcrum shifts with respect to the pressurization point. On the other hand, it cannot be denied that uncertainty remains in the calculation of the distance lb due to the nonlinearity of the joining member. In particular, the influence degree becomes large at a point far from the arrangement center point of the sensors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d. For this reason, the obtained distance information is less accurate than the angle information.

  On the other hand, in the configuration of FIG. 19, the coordinate position can be calculated only by the angle information, so that the detection accuracy can be improved.

  In this case, the angle at which the sensors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d are arranged need not be 90 degrees, and the arrangement center points of the sensor 26a, 26b and the sensor 26c, 26d are different from each other. It suffices if a certain angle known in advance can be maintained.

  In the configuration of FIG. 19, the case where the flat plate 27 is configured by one for the set of sensors 26 a and 26 b and the set of sensors 26 c and 26 d is illustrated, but as shown in FIG. 10, the sensor 26 a , 26b and the flat plate 27b corresponding to the sensors 26c, d may be superposed and the same effect can be obtained.

  Still another embodiment of the structure of the input information detection device (a ferroelectric converter) according to the present invention will be described. A schematic diagram of the structure is shown in FIG. The pressure-sensitive sensors 211a to 211d that detect four pressing forces are divided into two pairs, and each pair is attached to flat plates 212a and 212b to which a pressing force as input information is applied. The flat plates 212a and 212b and the pressure sensitive sensors 211a to 211d are coupled via an elastic body (for example, elastic rubber, a spring, or the like), and coupled to the pressure sensitive sensors 211a and 221b and the pressure sensitive sensors 211c and 211d. The respective flat plates 212a and 212b are arranged so as to overlap each other.

  Next, a procedure for detecting the position and magnitude of the pressing force applied as input information will be described with reference to FIG. Now, it is assumed that a pressure of magnitude Nc is applied to a point Pc (Xc, Yc) on the flat plate 21. At this time, depending on the output values of the pressure sensors 222a and 222b, the direction 31 of the pressure point Pc from the pressure sensors 222a and 222b, that is, the center point where the pressure point Pc and the pressure sensors 222a and 222b are arranged. An angle θ2 formed by Pf is calculated. Similarly, the direction 232 of the pressure point Pc from the pressure sensitive sensors 222c and 222d, that is, the pressure point Pc and the pressure sensitive sensors 222c and 222d are arranged according to the output values of the pressure sensitive sensors 222c and 222d. An angle θ3 formed by the center point Pg is calculated. Therefore, the coordinates on the flat plate 221 of the pressurization point Pc can be obtained by calculating the above two pieces of information. Further, the magnitude of the input pressure can be obtained from the sum of the absolute values of the output values of the four pressure sensitive sensors 222a to 222d.

  As described above, the coordinate position of the pressurization point Pc can be obtained with high accuracy by dividing the center points Pf and Pg where the pressure sensitive sensors 222a to 222d are arranged. When the central points of the placement of the pressure sensitive sensors 222a to 222d are the same and one point, it is not easy to accurately obtain the coordinate position of the pressure point. The reason is described below.

Suppose that 202a-202d is arrange | positioned to a pressure sensor as shown in FIG. At this time, the direction of the pressurization point Pb from the center point of the pressure-sensitive sensors 202a to 202d, that is, the angle θ1 formed by the pressurization point Pb and the center point CP can be obtained for all directions. The distance Lb from the center point CP of the pressurizing point Pb is converted as follows from the values from the pressure sensitive sensors 202a to 202d into the X direction component and the Y direction component.
X direction component: X = S3 + S4-S1-S2
Y direction component: Y = S1 + S3-S2-S4
The distance Lb can also be converted by dividing the combined force of these components by the sum of the applied pressures as follows. However, S1 to S4 represent output values of the pressure sensitive sensors 202a to 202d.
Distance Lb: Lb = (X2 + Y2) /
(| S1 | + | S2 | + | S3 | + | S4 |)
However, the center point CP at which the pressure sensitive sensors 202a to 202d are arranged and the applied pressure due to the deformation of a joining member (for example, elastic rubber, spring or spring) provided on the pressure sensitive sensors 202a to 202d. Uncertainty is inherent in the calculation of the distance Lb due to the deviation of the mechanical fulcrum and the nonlinearity associated with the deformation of the joining member. In particular, when the distance from the arrangement center point CP of the sensors 202a to 202d to the pressurization point Pb is far, the influence becomes large. Therefore, it is inevitable that the distance information that can be obtained is less accurate than the angle information.

  In the present embodiment, the detection accuracy is improved by calculating the coordinate position only from the angle information. Note that the angle at which the pressure-sensitive sensor is arranged does not have to be 90 degrees, and each arrangement center point may be different and have a certain angle.

  Next, still another embodiment of the structure of the input information detection device according to the present invention will be described. A schematic diagram of the structure is shown in FIG. Two pairs of pressure sensitive sensors 232a, 232b; 233a, 233b connected to the ends of the flat plates 231a, 231b; and 2 × 2 matrices 234a-234d of pressure sensitive sensors arranged at the center of the flat plates 231a, 231b Is composed of. By configuring in this way, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of input information.

  The input information detection procedure will be described with reference to FIG. Assume that input information is added to a point P13 on the flat plates 246a and 246b. At this time, the angle information obtained by the pressure sensors 251a and 251b is obtained as a value having a constant angle error θ50 corresponding to the resolution of the pressure sensors 251a and 251b. A region HA indicated by hatching in the figure is input position coordinates predicted by angle information obtained from the pressure sensitive sensors 251a and 251b. When pressure sensitive sensors with the same resolution are used, the angle error is generally proportional to the distance from the center point CP of the pressure sensitive sensor. Therefore, the detection of the input position coordinates is arranged in a matrix at the center point and the two values from each pair 251a, 251b; 252a, 252b of the pressure sensitive sensor located at the end of the flat plate 246a, 246b. It is performed from the convenience of three values from the pressure-sensitive sensor sets 253a to 253d. The method of detecting the input position coordinates from the three values at that time is as follows. The values of the 2 × 2 pressure sensors 253a to 253d arranged in a matrix in the vicinity of the center point CP are positioned as the most accurate information. The center of the input position obtained from the values obtained from the pressure sensors 253a to 253d and the values from the respective pressure sensor pairs 251a, 251b; 252a, 252b is defined as the input position coordinates. Thereby, for example, when the application point of the input pressure changes from the coordinates P13 to P14 in the drawing, the position information can be detected with high accuracy.

Hereinafter, further different embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 34 shows an example of the configuration of the embodiment of the signal input device of the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numeral 301 denotes a pressing portion, which is usually composed of a plane having a certain area, a set of points and lines arranged in a two-dimensional shape, or a virtual surface by a set of lines arranged in a one-dimensional shape. Is done.

  A sensor unit 302 outputs a signal corresponding to the pressing force applied to the pressing unit 301.

  An information output device 303 outputs information such as the magnitude of the pressing force and the position of the pressing force from the signal output from the sensor unit 302. This signal conversion method will be described in detail separately. The device 303 can also obtain a dedicated signal for mode setting from another sensor unit (not shown) and output it as a switch signal.

  Reference numeral 304 denotes a calculation unit, which determines a human-intended operation to which a force is applied based on a signal from the information output device 303 such as the magnitude of a pressing force and a pressing position, and switches the switch based on the determination result. Is set, the result is displayed on the screen, or the indicated position is displayed as the cursor position.

  A central processing unit 305 performs processing according to a signal from the calculation unit 304 or displays it on a screen. The device 305 obtains information from other signal input devices (not shown), outputs signals to an output device (not shown), and exchanges signals with other devices.

  Reference numeral 306 denotes a display device that performs screen display according to instructions from the central processing unit 305.

  The calculation unit 304 includes at least a calculation control 341, a cumulative calculation unit 342, a subtraction calculation unit 343, a division unit 344, and an addition unit 345.

  The calculation control unit 341 controls the accumulation calculation unit 342, the subtraction calculation unit 343, the division unit 344, and the addition unit 345 so as to perform a predetermined calculation process every time the time of substantially the same length elapses.

  The cumulative calculation unit 342 performs cumulative calculation on the value corresponding to the magnitude and position of the input pressing force, and outputs the calculation result. The subtraction operation unit 343 performs subtraction so that the absolute value of the cumulative operation result of the predetermined value becomes smaller, and outputs the operation result. The division unit 344 divides the output from the subtraction operation unit 343 by a preset value and outputs the result. The adding unit 345 adds the output of the dividing unit 344 to the current designated position and outputs it as a new designated position.

  A flowchart of the above operation is shown in FIG.

  In step S1, the cumulative calculation for the X and Y directions according to the magnitude and position of the input pressing force every predetermined time is given to the virtual inertia assumed for the indicated position. It is considered that the impulse of the pressing force is being calculated. Also, in step S2, subtracting a predetermined value from the cumulative calculation result every predetermined time assumes that a resistance force such as a frictional force is acting on the virtual inertia. Here, the values indicating the virtual frictional force (X-direction frictional force, Y-direction frictional force) are always positive values in terms of the characteristics of the frictional force, and act in the direction of decreasing the absolute value of the impulse. Thereafter, when the value is divided by the virtual inertia, a value corresponding to the speed is obtained. If this value is converted into the previous designated position every predetermined time, a new designated position can be obtained. Also, the friction force does not exceed the impulse. This is similar to the fact that the object does not start moving in the opposite direction due to friction.

  By performing the calculation as described above, it is possible to express that the pointing position having the virtual inertia moves while being decelerated by the frictional force by obtaining an impulse by the pressing force to the pressing portion 301.

  Next, another embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 36 shows an example of the configuration of another embodiment of the signal input apparatus of the present invention. 34, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 34 denote members having the same functions as those in FIG. Here, the contents of the calculation unit 304A are characteristic and will be described in detail below.

  The calculation unit 304 includes at least a mode determination unit 346 and a pointing position calculation unit 347.

  The mode determination unit 346 determines that the input mode is any one of A, B, and C. That is, when the change in the pressing position is large, the pressing force is small, and the change in the pressing force is small, the input mode is determined as mode A (relative position input mode). If the pressure is small, the pressure is large, and the change in the pressure is small, the input mode is determined to be mode B (absolute position input mode), and the change in the pressure position is large, and the pressure is large or small. Therefore, when the change in size is large, the input mode is determined as C (virtual inertia input mode). When the mode determination unit 346 determines that the input mode is A, the instruction position calculation unit 347 determines the instruction position on the assumption that the pressing force and the pressing position correspond to the moving speed of the instruction unit, and the mode determination unit If the input mode is determined to be B, the pressed position corresponds to the position of the pointing unit, and the pointing position is determined. If the mode determining unit determines that the input mode is C, the pressing force and The designated position is determined on the assumption that the pressed position corresponds to the acceleration of the designated position.

The mode determination unit 346 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 37, the mode control 346 includes a pressing position change rate calculation unit 461 that calculates the change rate of the pressing position, a pressing force change rate calculation unit 462 that calculates the change rate of the pressing force, and a pressing position change rate. Is composed of a first determination unit 463 that determines whether or not the pressure change rate is larger or smaller than a predetermined value, and a second determination unit 464 that determines whether or not the pressing force change rate is larger or smaller than the predetermined value.
FIG. 38 shows an example of a flowchart for explaining mode determination. In step S21, the pressing position change rate and the pressing force change rate are obtained from the signal of the information output device, and in steps S22 and S23, the values of steps S24 to S26 are determined depending on whether these values are larger or smaller than preset values. Sort into three modes.

  By configuring as described above, it is possible to determine the three input modes and calculate the indicated position.

  Next, another embodiment will be described.

FIG. 39 shows a configuration example of an embodiment of the signal input device of the present invention. The components denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 34 have the same functions as those in FIG. Here, the contents of the calculation unit 304B are characteristic and will be described below.
The calculation unit 304B includes a low-pass filter 348 that passes only a low-frequency signal component with respect to at least one of the magnitude of the pressing force and the pressing position.

  By doing this, it is possible to prevent mode and operation judgment errors and malfunctions due to the influence of electrical noise and signal fluctuation due to the natural frequency of the so-called spring mass system composed of the pressing part and the sensor. it can. In particular, in order to remove the signal fluctuation due to the natural frequency of the so-called spring mass system constituted by the pressing portion and the sensor, the characteristic of the low-pass filter 348 is changed to that of the spring mass system constituted by the pressing portion 301 and the sensor portion 304. It is necessary to remove the frequency sufficiently and to pass the signal input frequency sufficiently.

  A configuration example of the low-pass filter 348 includes a configuration example in which a predetermined number of sampled signals are added and a value obtained by dividing the total by the predetermined number is output.

Next, another embodiment will be described.
FIG. 40 shows an example of the configuration of the signal input device of the present invention. The components denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 34 have the same functions as those in FIG. Here, the contents of the root calculation unit 304C are characteristic and will be described below.

  The calculation unit 304d has a constant setting unit 349 for setting various constants used for calculation, and the calculation device determines an optimal value from the characteristics of the pressing force when the operator performs an operation.

  The constant setting unit 349 displays a screen as shown in FIG. 41, for example. Here, items to be trial-operated from now on are displayed in large size, and the operator can confirm what operation should be performed. Thereafter, the operator performs a predetermined trial operation. For example, in the case of a single click operation, the user clicks within the designated range as shown in FIG. At this time, the constant setting unit 349 detects the pressing pattern of the trial operation, for example, measures the continuous pressing time at the time of single click, and sets this as the threshold value at the time of single click determination. That is, in the single click operation after the setting, it is determined that the single click is performed only for the continuous pressing operation of this time or less.

  Thus, by determining the set value from the actual operation, it becomes possible to set a constant according to the individuality of each operator.

  Further, the reliability of the set value can be further improved by performing a plurality of raw operations instead of one trial operation. For example, a single click trial operation can be performed a plurality of times, and the maximum continuous pressing time among them can be set as a threshold value for single click determination. Or when setting the maximum no-input time between two presses for judging a double click operation, the maximum no-input time between two presses obtained by a plurality of trial operations of the operator A value longer than the maximum value among the plurality of data regarding may be set as the maximum no-input time between two presses for determining the double-click operation.

  By doing so, it is possible to set a value that is more suitable for the characteristics of the individual.

  Further, the constant setting unit 349 performs a confirmation trial using the setting candidate value obtained by the operator's trial as a constant, and confirms with the operator whether the setting candidate value can be formally set as a constant.

  As a result, if the operator determines that the constant is inappropriate, the operator moves to the setting screen again and performs a trial operation to obtain a better setting value. Alternatively, the operator can set the current set value by appropriately increasing or decreasing it.

  As described above, it is possible to provide a signal input device that is easier to use by providing the arithmetic unit 304d with various functions.

  An example in which the present invention is applied to, for example, a pointing device PD of a personal computer (personal computer) PC will be described with reference to FIG.

This pointing device PD is configured to be capable of three inputs: (1) absolute position input, (2) relative position input, and (3) virtual inertia input. The absolute position input of (1) displays the finger position on the screen DP, and the relative position input of (2) displays the trajectory on the display DP by rubbing with the finger. is there. The virtual inertia input (3) is such that when the pointing device is rubbed in the direction of the finger, the cursor continues to move even after releasing the finger according to the pressing force and the pressing direction on the screen. is there. Prior to this, the virtual inertia as the mass of the cursor and the virtual friction as the friction on the screen are set in advance. At this time, the acceleration of the cursor is
Constant × (pressing force-virtual friction) / virtual inertia, the cursor movement distance is
It is defined by a constant x (cursor acceleration x pressing time) x pressing time.

  Further, according to the present invention, the remote controller (remote controller) can be provided with a browsing controller function. That is, as shown in FIG. 43, when the browsing controller BC of the remote controller RC is rubbed with a finger, virtual inertia is input as in the case of the personal computer, and after the finger leaves the controller BC. The cursor (inverted display) CS runs alone with inertia in the horizontal direction on the screen. Furthermore, the cursor is brought to the target position and confirmed.

    As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a signal conversion device that can assign a relatively large number of commands to the number of buttons and that can perform work sensuously.

  As described above, the signal input device of the present invention arranges the screen presented on the display and the switching screen in a three-dimensional screen space, divides the three-dimensional space into region groups, Since it is configured to set the representative position, even when switching screens, it is possible to directly select this and point to a specific position, and further expand the operating force applied to the pad type input unit By providing such a mechanism, it is possible to obtain a signal input device in which the operation accuracy is further improved.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, two pressure sensors are used as one set, and a plurality of sets are provided, so that the coordinate position of the press point can be provided with high accuracy.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the value corresponding to the magnitude and position of the pressing force applied to the pressing portion is cumulatively calculated at a predetermined time, the indicated position can be calculated using virtual inertia. It can be moved and displayed while being decelerated by the frictional force.

  Further, according to the present invention, the input mode is divided into a plurality of modes according to the mode of the force applied to the pressing portion, that is, depending on the magnitude of the pressing force itself, the magnitude of the change in the pressing force, and the magnitude of the change in the pressing position. Since the indication position is determined, the indication position can be determined more appropriately.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, since only the low-frequency signal component is allowed to pass, for example, it is possible to prevent signal fluctuation due to the natural frequency of a so-called spring mass system, and to obtain the indicated position more accurately. .

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the set value is determined from one or more actual operations, it is possible to set a constant suitable for each operator and obtain the indicated position more appropriately. it can.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the input device of the personal computer is configured to move the cursor on the screen according to the virtual inertia based on the applied pressing force, an input device that is practical and easy to use is obtained. be able to.

1 shows a first embodiment of a signal conversion apparatus of the present invention, (A), (B), (C) are a side view, a plan view, and a rear view, respectively. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the signal converter shown in FIG. 1, (A) and (B) are a top view and sectional drawing, respectively. It is a figure for demonstrating the detection procedure of the pressure information by a ferroelectric conversion element, (A), (B), (C) is an example of a piezoelectric conversion element, the explanatory drawing of the operation state, and the position of a pressurization part, respectively FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a coordinate diagram of FIG. 4 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between L and α in FIG. 3, where (a) is a definition by a primary curve, and (b) is a graph by a definition by a quadratic curve. The 2nd Example of the signal converter of this invention is shown, (A), (B), (C) is a top view, plane explanatory drawing, sectional drawing. 3 shows a third embodiment of the signal conversion apparatus of the present invention, wherein (A), (B), and (C) are a plan view, a plane explanatory view, and a partial cross-sectional view. FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the signal conversion apparatus of the present invention, wherein (A), (B), and (C) are a plan view, a plane explanatory view, and a partial cross-sectional view. FIG. The signal converter of 5th Example of this invention is shown, (A), (B) is a top view, sectional drawing. The block diagram which shows the control structure in the case of applying the signal converter of this invention to a personal computer etc. FIG. The flowchart which shows the main control operation | movement performed inside a calculating part. The flowchart which shows the other example of the main control operation performed inside a calculating part. The 6th Example of the signal converter of this invention is shown, (A), (B) is a top view, sectional drawing. The 7th Example of the signal converter of this invention is shown, (A), (B) is a top view, sectional drawing. It is a perspective view which shows the example of application of the signal input device which concerns on another Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which generalizes and shows the content of FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram for realizing a signal input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. An example of a signal input device configured in a shape capable of one-hand operation is shown, (A) is a side view, (B) is a top view, and (C) is a bottom view. It is explanatory drawing which shows the function, taking a numerical value input as an example as specific information in the structure of FIG. The configuration example of the pad type input unit 5 shown in FIG. 1 will be described, in which (A) is a top view and (B) is a side view. It is explanatory drawing of the input information processing of the structure of FIG. In the configuration example of the pad type input unit 5, an example that is not preferable will be described, in which (A) is a top view and (B) is a side view. It is explanatory drawing of the input information processing of the structure of FIG. Another example of the configuration of the pad type input unit 5 will be described, in which (A) is a top view and (B) is a side view. It is a perspective view which shows the example of application of the signal input device of the prior art example 1. It is a perspective view which shows the example of a movement of a pointer. It is a perspective view which shows the example of application of the signal input device of the prior art example 2. It is a perspective view explaining the input state in the structure of FIG. An example of the electromechanical conversion device of this invention is shown, (A) and (B) are a top view and a side view. Explanatory drawing which shows the detection procedure by the ferroelectric conversion device of FIG. The different example of the electromechanical conversion device of this invention is shown, (A) and (B) are a top view and a side view. The example of arrangement | positioning with the pressure sensor which cannot detect a pressurization point with high precision is shown, (A) and (B) are a top view and a side view. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the example of arrangement | positioning with a pressure-sensitive sensor which cannot detect a pressurization point with high precision. Explanatory drawing of the detection procedure of the input information by this invention. An example of the signal input device of the present invention. The operation | movement flowchart of the apparatus of FIG. Another example of the signal input device of the present invention. FIG. 37 is a detailed view of a mode control unit 346 in FIG. 36. FIG. 38 is a flowchart of mode determination of the apparatus of FIG. 37. FIG. Another example of the signal input device of the present invention. Another example of the signal input device of the present invention. An example of the display screen of the constant setting part of FIG. The perspective explanatory view of the personal computer to which the present invention is applied. Explanatory drawing of the remote controller and personal computer to which this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Notebook personal computer 2 Operation part 3 Display part 4 Keyboard 5 Pad type | mold input part 6 Icon 7 Pointer 8 Screen 9 Boundary line 10 Area | region 11 Area group 12 Representative position 13 Signal amplification means 14 Encoding means 15 Area registration means 16 Target coordinate setting Means 17 Comparison corresponding means 18 Registration reproduction switching means 19 Conversion coefficient registration means 20 Personal information recording means 21 Time change registration means 22 Main body 23 Operation part 24 Infrared transmission part 25 Projection part 26 Sensor 27 Flat plate 101 Case 102 Signal transmission part 103 Pressure receiving portion 103a Contact surface 103b Root portion 104 Electroelectric conversion elements 104a to 104d Unit element 105 Base 106 Virtual plane 107 Information output device 108 Calculation unit 108a Mode determination unit 108b Conversion device 108c Preprocessing unit 109 Central calculation unit 110 Display A, B , C, D, E, F, G signal converter

Claims (15)

Input detection means for detecting, from the input pressing force, a two-dimensional coordinate of the pressure point of the pressing force and a pressure coordinate based on the pressing force;
Coordinate detection means for detecting a position area in a three-dimensional area from the two-dimensional coordinates and the pressure coordinates, and assigning a representative point to each detected position area;
A signal input device comprising:   Area where the coordinate detecting means registers a plurality of screens corresponding to the pressure coordinates, a three-dimensional area composed of sections of each screen corresponding to the two-dimensional coordinates, and a representative point corresponding thereto. The signal input device according to claim 1, comprising registration means.   The signal input device according to claim 2, wherein the input detection unit includes a registration unit for a conversion coefficient from the pressing force into a two-dimensional coordinate and a pressure coordinate.   The signal input device according to claim 3, wherein both the input detection unit and the coordinate detection unit have information of temporal changes as parameters.   In the input detection means, a group of a plurality of pressure detection elements is arranged at a plurality of positions, pressure coordinates are detected based on angle information of detection points obtained from the pressure detection elements, and the pressure detection elements The signal input device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force is detected on the basis of all outputs. A pressure-receiving unit that receives a pressing force as an input, a force-electric conversion unit that converts pressure information sensed by the pressure-receiving unit into an electric signal, a display that displays an image according to the electric signal converted by the conversion unit, and In a signal input device having
Between the force-electrical conversion and the display, the two-dimensional code relating to the display position of the image displayed on the display by an arbitrary means and an arbitrary operation code as a code other than this are electrically converted Encoding means that can be specified simultaneously based on pressure information is provided,
An image composed of a current screen area obtained by dividing the video currently displayed on the display and a hidden screen area obtained by dividing the video displayed by an input operation that is not currently displayed. A signal input device characterized in that a spatial region has a function corresponding to a plurality of codes generated by the encoding means.   Press information storage means for storing time-series changes in the input pressing force is provided, and the encoding means can form a temporal press pattern based on the contents of the press information storage means. The signal input device according to claim 6, wherein the signal input device is configured.   It is configured to have a registration / playback function for registering and playing back the contents of the encoding means, or to have a means for enabling connection of a device having the registration / playback function, and satisfies either one The signal input device according to claim 6, wherein the signal input device is configured as a device. A pressing portion having a certain area to which force as input is applied;
A force electric signal detecting means for detecting a force applied to the pressing portion and converting the force into an electric signal;
An information output device that outputs information including information on at least the magnitude of the force applied to the pressing portion and the position on the pressing portion from the electric signal output by the force electric signal detecting means;
Based on the information output from the information output device, the characteristics of the force as the input are determined. Based on the determination result, the switching setting of the changeover switch, the display of the result on the screen, the indication position An arithmetic unit that performs arithmetic operations for realizing various functions such as display,
Have
The arithmetic unit is at least
A repetitive calculation control unit that controls to perform a predetermined calculation process every time a predetermined time elapses, and a cumulative calculation that calculates the value according to the magnitude and position of the input pressure and outputs the calculation result And
A subtraction operation unit for removing a certain value from the cumulative operation result and outputting the operation result;
A division unit that divides the output from the subtraction operation unit by a preset value and outputs the result;
An adder for adding the output of the division unit to the current indicated position and outputting the result as a new indicated position;
The signal input device, wherein the cumulative calculation unit, the subtraction calculation unit, the division unit, and the addition unit are time-controlled by the repetitive calculation control unit.   The signal input device according to claim 9, wherein the cumulative calculation unit, the subtraction calculation unit, the division unit, and the addition unit perform each calculation separately for an x-direction component and a y-direction component. A pressing portion having a certain area to which force as input is applied;
A sensor unit that detects a force applied to the pressing unit and converts it into an electrical signal;
An information output device that outputs information including information on at least the magnitude of the force applied to the pressing portion and the position on the pressing portion from the electrical signal output by the sensor unit;
Based on the information output from the information output device, the characteristics of the force as the input are determined, the switching setting of the changeover switch based on the determination result, the display of the result on the screen, and the indicated position An arithmetic unit that performs arithmetic operations for realizing various functions such as display,
Have
The arithmetic unit is at least
When the change in the pressing position is large, the pressing force is small, and the change in the pressing force is small, the input mode is judged as mode A, the change in the pressing position is small, the pressing force is large, and the pressing force is large. A mode determining unit that determines that the input mode is mode B when the change is small, and that the change of the pressing position is large, the pressing force is large or small, and the input mode is mode C when the size changes largely; ,
When the mode determination unit determines that the input mode is mode A, the pointing position is determined on the assumption that the pressing force and the pressing position correspond to the moving speed of the pointing unit, and the mode determination unit sets the input mode to mode B. When the determination is made, the instruction position is determined on the assumption that the pressing position corresponds to the position of the instruction section. When the mode determination section determines that the input mode is mode C, the pressing force and the pressing position are determined by the instruction position. An instruction position calculation unit that determines the instruction position as corresponding to the acceleration of
A signal input device comprising: A pressing portion having a certain area to which force as input is applied;
A sensor unit that detects a force applied to the pressing unit and converts it into an electrical signal;
An information output device that outputs information including information on at least the magnitude of the force applied to the pressing portion and the position on the pressing portion from the electrical signal output by the sensor unit;
Based on the information output from the information output device, the characteristics of the force as the input are determined. Based on the determination result, the switching setting of the changeover switch, the display of the result on the screen, the indication position An arithmetic unit that performs arithmetic operations for realizing various functions such as display,
Have
The calculation unit is configured to have a constant setting unit for setting various constants used for the calculation,
The signal input device is characterized in that the setting of the constant is performed by the arithmetic device automatically determining an optimum value for the operation based on the characteristic of the pressing force as an input. In an input information detection device having a flat plate to which a pressing force as input information is applied, and a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors coupled to the flat plate,
A plurality of the two pairs of pressure-sensitive sensors are arranged at positions different from the central point of the flat plate and at positions not overlapping on the same line connecting the central points. Conversion device. A signal input device of a remote controller for a personal computer, wherein a cursor on an image displayed on an independent display device can be moved by a tracing force applied on a pointing device,
Generated by the pressing force applied to the pointing device, the moving direction of the pressing force applied to the pointing device, the pressing time, the virtual inertia of the preset cursor mass, and the movement of the cursor on the previous screen The cursor moves on the screen at a certain distance with an acceleration determined based on the virtual friction
The acceleration is determined by the following equation (pressing force-virtual friction) / virtual inertia. A signal input device of a remote controller for a personal computer, wherein a cursor on an image displayed on an independent display device can be moved by a tracing force applied on a pointing device,
Generated by the pressing force applied to the pointing device, the moving direction of the pressing force applied to the pointing device, the pressing time, the virtual inertia of the preset cursor mass, and the movement of the cursor on the previous screen The cursor moves on the screen at a certain distance with an acceleration determined based on the virtual friction
The distance is determined by the following expression: cursor acceleration x pressing time x pressing time.

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