JP3002319B2 - XY coordinate input device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an XY coordinate input device which is provided in a display device such as a CRT display and detects the amount and direction of rotation of a rotating ball by a pair of rotation angle detecting means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As this kind of XY coordinate input device, a device using a rotating ball for controlling a cursor position and inputting a graphic is widely used.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the internal structure of a conventional example of such an XY coordinate input device. In the same figure, a rotating sphere 2 made of steel balls or the like is rotatably housed inside a casing 1, and a driven portion 3 a is brought into contact with the rotating sphere 2 so that a pair of bearings 4, 5 are pivoted. The supported first rotating shaft 3 and the second rotating shaft 6 that is also supported by the pair of bearings 7 and 8 by bringing the driven portion 6a into contact with the rotating sphere 2 make the respective axes perpendicular to each other. They are arranged in a positional relationship. Code plates 9 and 10 having slits (not shown) at regular intervals are fixedly provided on each of the rotating shafts 3 and 6, and a light emitting element 11 and a light receiving element 12 are provided on both sides of the code plate 9 therebetween.
Are arranged facing each other, and a light emitting element 13 and a light receiving element 14 are arranged facing each other with the code plate 10 interposed therebetween.

Therefore, when the rotating sphere 2 slightly projecting from an opening (not shown) of the casing 1 is rotated in an arbitrary direction by manual operation, the first and second rotating shafts 3 and 3 are rotated.
6 rotates in a predetermined direction in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating sphere 2, so that the rotation angles of the code plates 9, 10 are detected by the light emitting elements 11, 13 and the light receiving elements 12, 14 so that The rotation angles of the rotating shafts 3 and 6 can be individually extracted, and the detection signals of the rotating angles of the two rotating shafts 3 and 6 obtained as described above are input to a display device (not shown) as the X coordinate component and the Y coordinate component of the rotating sphere 2. It has become so.

In order to ensure that power is transmitted between the rotating sphere 2 and each of the rotating shafts 3 and 6, the line connecting the driven portions 3a and 6a is vertically divided into two equal parts. The rotatable sphere 2 is rotatable on a straight line passing through the center of the sphere 2.
A biasing roller 15 is disposed to elastically contact the roller.

[0006]

However, in such an XY coordinate input device, a pair of rotation angle detecting means are arranged so that the axes of their rotation shafts 3 and 6 are orthogonal to each other. On the axes 3 and 6, the code plates 9 and
Since the light receiving element and the light emitting element are arranged on the code plates 9 and 10, these parts protrude and create a dead space, which increases the size as a whole and hinders the miniaturization of the apparatus. I was In particular, in order to reliably detect the amount and direction of rotation of the rotating sphere 2,
Since it is necessary to set the two detection points of the rotating sphere 2 at an angle of 90 degrees, they must be arranged orthogonally as described above, which limits the miniaturization.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to reliably detect the amount and direction of rotation of the rotating sphere 2 and to reduce the size of the XY. A coordinate input device is provided.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a casing having an opening, a rotating sphere housed in the casing and partially projecting from the opening, and a rotating sphere. It has a pair of rotating shafts that rotate in conjunction with each other and their axial directions are in an intersecting relationship, and a code plate that is integrated with each of the rotating shafts, and a rotation angle detection that is disposed to face through the code plate. and means, in said detectable X-Y coordinate input device to rotate the driven rotating sphere the rotation amount and rotation direction by the rotation angle detecting means, an axial cross-relationship of the two rotating shafts, In addition to the non-orthogonal arrangement , the outer peripheral surfaces of the two rotating shafts
A circular roller is provided, and both rollers are at the center of the rotated sphere.
This is achieved by contacting at right angles to.

[0009]

According to the above means, the intersecting relationship between the two rotating shafts in the axial direction is made non-orthogonal, and the two rotating shafts are
Is provided with a roller whose outer peripheral surface is semicircular in cross section, and both rollers are
Make contact with the center of the rotating sphere in an orthogonal arrangement
Since the the, even two rotary axes not perpendicular, the contact points are straight
Since they intersect, the amount of ball rotation in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction
The detection is not affected, there is no need for correction, etc. , and the rotation angle detection means is arranged so that each part is stored in the dead space which has conventionally occurred, and the protruding part of the rotation angle detection means is inclined. The length of the protrusion can be reduced.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are a plan view, a front view, and a side view showing the entire structure of an XY coordinate input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a main part viewed from above the XY coordinate input device, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a main part viewed from the front of the XY coordinate input device, FIG.
(B), (c), and (d) are a rear view, a plan view, a front view, and a bottom view of the casing, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an enlarged view of FIG. 4 (d), and FIG. Sectional view along line AA,
(B) is a cross-sectional view along line BB, (c) is a cross-sectional view along line CC, (d) is a cross-sectional view along line DD,
(E) is a cross-sectional view along the line EE, (f) is a cross-sectional view along the line FF, FIGS. 7 (a), (b), and (c) are plan views showing the lid, and front view. It is a figure and a side view, and the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part corresponding to FIG. 8 demonstrated previously.

The XY coordinate input device shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 rotates a rotating sphere 2 projecting from an opening 24 of a casing 1 in an arbitrary direction with a finger to display the image on a screen of a display device (not shown). The position of the cursor is controlled, and a pair of rotating shafts 3 and 6 interlocked with the rotation of the rotating sphere 2
Is supported. The rotating spheres 2 are attached to the rotating shafts 3 and 6.
Rollers 19 and 20 that are brought into contact with each other are fixedly provided. The first rotary shaft 3 is supported at a location near the code plate 9 by a pivot bearing 16 formed by molding a synthetic resin having high wear resistance as shown in FIG.
Of the torsion coil spring 1
Terminal 17a that extends linearly and has an L-shaped tip
As a result, the roller 19 is constantly urged toward the rotating sphere 2 side. Therefore, the rotation of the rotating shaft 3 not only rotates in the circumferential direction in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating sphere 2, but also swings up and down around the pivot bearing 16. Similarly, the second rotating shaft 6 that makes the roller 19 contact the rotating sphere 2 also
0 is pivotally supported by a pivot bearing 21 equivalent to the above-described pivot bearing 16, and the other end of the torsion coil spring 22 has an end opposite to the code plate 10 side.
2b is always urged toward the rotating sphere 2 side, so that it not only rotates in the circumferential direction in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating sphere 2, but also swings up and down around the pivot bearing 18. Run-out is allowed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rollers 19 and 20 are set so that the contact point A with the rotating sphere 2 is inside the maximum diameter portion, that is, on the surface of the lower hemisphere.
The torsion coil springs 17 and 22 urge the rotating shafts 3 and 6 from below, and the rotating sphere 2 protrudes in the swinging direction of the rotating shafts 3 and 6. Axis 3,
The rollers 19 and 20 are pressed against the rotating sphere 2 respectively.

The rotating sphere 2 of the rollers 19, 20
Are disposed at an angle of 90 degrees about the center point of the rotating sphere 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the rotation shaft 3 of the roller 19 is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the casing 1 (not shown, for example, θ ₁ = −8).
°: based on the longitudinal direction of the casing 1 shown in FIG. 2)
It is arranged. On the other hand, the rotation shaft 6 of the roller 20 is
As shown in FIG. 2, the casing 1 is arranged to be inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction (not shown, for example, θ ₂ = 75 °: based on the longitudinal direction of the casing 1 shown in FIG. 2). I have. θ ₁ −θ ₂ ≠ 90 °, and in the present embodiment, θ ₂ −θ ₁ = 83 ° <90 °. At the contact points A, A, the angles of the rotating shafts 3 and 6 with respect to the rotating sphere 2 are different, but they are in orthogonal contact with the center of the rotating sphere 2, and
The outer peripheral surfaces of the rollers 19 and 20 are formed in a semicircular cross section. For this reason, even if the rotation axes 3 and 6 are not orthogonal, since the contact points A and A are orthogonal, the detection of the amount of ball rotation in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is not affected and no correction is required.
Since the components such as the rotating shafts 3, 6, the rollers 9, 10 and the torsion coil spring 22 are arranged in an inclined manner, for example, the rollers 9, 10 and the torsion coil spring 22 protrude as in the conventional example. It has a dead space, so that the apparatus does not become large as a whole. That is, in the present embodiment, each component is disposed so as to fill the dead space by arranging each component at an angle,
The protruding parts of the protruding parts are also retracted so that the protruding length can be shortened, and the whole can be made compact.

In FIG. 2, reference numerals 34 and 35 denote circuit boards. The circuit boards 34 and 35, the rotating shafts 3 and 6, the code board 9,
The rotation angle detecting means is constituted by 10, the rollers 19 and 20, and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the casing 1 is provided with holes for accommodating and holding the torsion coil springs 17 and 22, respectively.
And coil recesses 28 and 30 through which the ends 17a and 22a are inserted. The casing 1 has a rotating shaft 3,
A housing recess 31 for housing the code plate 9 and the like, a housing recess 32 for housing the rotating shaft 6, the code plate 10 and the like, and the rotating sphere 2
Are provided, and concave portions 36, 36, 36 for holding the support spheres 23 described later are provided.

FIG. 7 shows a cover 25 mounted on the upper surface of the casing 1. The cover 25 is provided with an opening 26 through which the rotating sphere 2 is projected. I tried not to drop from 1.

High-hardness supporting spheres 23 made of ruby or the like are incorporated in three places on the inner bottom surface of the casing 1. The rotating spheres 2 are mounted on these supporting spheres 23 and supported at three points, thereby enabling rotation. The stability and good operability of the sphere 2 are guaranteed.

The construction of a part of this embodiment which is not particularly described is the same as that of the above-described conventional example.
When the rotating sphere 2 slightly projecting from the rotating sphere 4 is rotated in an arbitrary direction, the first and second rotating shafts 3 and 6 whose axial directions cross each other interlock with the rotation of the rotating sphere 2 respectively. Rotate the rotation angle of each code plate 9, 10 to the optical element 1
By detecting with the optical elements 1 and 12 and the optical elements 13 and 14,
The detection signal of the rotation angle of both rotating shafts 3 and 6 is X
The coordinate component and the Y coordinate component are input to a display device (not shown).

If an excessive operation force is applied to the rotating sphere 2 during operation, the rotating sphere 2 is displaced within the clearance between the peripheral portion of the opening 24 and the rotating sphere 2. And the first rotating shaft 3 and the second rotating shaft 6 may receive a strong force from the rotating sphere 2,
Even if such a strong external force acts, each of the rotating shafts 3 and 6 can cause the axis thereof to move while pushing the ends 17a and 22a of the torsion coil springs 17 and 22, respectively. The external force received from the sphere 2 is relieved, so that there is no concern about plastic deformation even if the mechanical strength is not increased by making both the rotating shafts 3 and 6 thicker, and the structure is advantageous in promoting miniaturization. . Further, even in the state where the axes are displaced in this manner, the rotating shafts 3 and 6 are urged upward by the torsion coil springs 17 and 22 so that the rollers 19 and 20 come into contact with the rotating sphere 2. It can be reliably linked to the rotation of the rotating sphere 2, and furthermore, even if the axis is shaken and the code plates 9 and 10 are slightly inclined, there is no danger of detection error due to the optical reading type, so that high reliability is achieved. Can be expected. Moreover, the number of bearings is reduced by half as compared with the conventional product that required two bearings on one rotating shaft, and the torsion coil springs 17, 22 which were not provided in the conventional product are inexpensive. Costs have been significantly reduced.

It should be noted that the present invention is applicable to other X-rays such as a mouse.
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a Y coordinate input device.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, both rotations
The crossing relationship of the axes in the axial direction is assumed to be non-orthogonal arrangement.
In addition, a roller with a semicircular cross section on the outer circumference is installed on both rotating shafts.
The two rollers are arranged perpendicular to the center of the rotating sphere.
Even if both axes of rotation are not orthogonal,
Since the contact points are perpendicular, the X-axis and Y-axis
The rotation detection is not affected, and no correction is required.
Further, the rotation angle detecting means is arranged so as to be stored in the dead space which has conventionally occurred, and the protruding portion of the rotation angle detecting means can be inclined to shorten the protruding length, so that the size of the apparatus can be reduced. A Y coordinate input device can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall structure of an XY coordinate input device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a main part of the XY coordinate input device according to the embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a main part of the XY coordinate input device according to one embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a casing of the XY coordinate input device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a casing of the XY coordinate input device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a lid of the XY coordinate input device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an internal structure of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Casing 2 Sphere to be rotated 3, 6 Rotation axis 9, 10 Code plate 17, 22, Torsion coil spring 19, 20 Roller

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A casing having an opening, a rotating sphere housed in the casing, a part of which protrudes from the opening, and an axial direction intersecting with each other by rotating in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating sphere. A pair of rotation shafts, having a code plate respectively integrated with both of these rotation shafts, comprising a rotation angle detection means disposed opposite to the code plate,
In the detectable X-Y coordinate input device to rotate the driven rotating sphere the rotation amount and rotation direction by the rotation angle detecting means, an axial cross-relationship of the two rotating shafts, to a non-orthogonal arrangement
In addition, the outer peripheral surfaces of the two rotating shafts have a semicircular cross section.
A roller is provided, and both rollers are positioned with respect to the center of the rotated sphere.
Characterized in that they are brought into contact in an orthogonal arrangement by
-Y coordinate input device.