JPH0235514A - Input device for computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily control a cursor by inserting the lower end part of a stick matching the palm of a hand into a support part, and providing pressure sensitive conductive rubber to the support part and transducing pressure into electric pulses. CONSTITUTION:The stick 21 matches the palm of the hand 22 and its lower end part is inserted into the support part 23. The support part 23 is arranged on a base body 24 and made of an elastic such as rubber, and the stick 21 can be slanted in all directions. Then when pressure is applied to the stick 21 in an X and a Y direction by the hand 22, the support part 23 is strained and its strain is transduced into an electric signal, thereby supplying electric pulses to a computer from a converting circuit. Further, push-button switches Z1-Z5 can be operated by the motion of fingers of the hand 22. Further, an electric circuit 34 is fitted on the base body 24 and a push-button is covered entirely with a cover 36. Consequently, the cursor can be moved on a computer display device only by the motion of the wrist.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" This invention relates to an improvement of a human-powered computer device commonly called a mouse. A mouse is used to move a cursor on a computer display.

"Prior Art" FIG. 7 shows a conventional mouse. A ball 12 is held on the bottom side of the base 11, and when the base 11 is gripped by hand and slid on the flat plate 13, the ball 12 rotates in the X and Y directions shown in the figure, and the ball 12 rotates in the direction and speed of rotation. It is converted into an electrical signal, and the electrical signal is given to the computer via the electric wire 14. Since the computer moves the cursor on the display device using this electrical signal, the movement of the hand becomes the movement of the cursor, allowing the cursor to be operated in a way that is directly linked to the operator's will. Push button switches 15,16 are used for auxiliary purposes such as pressing to notify the computer when the cursor has reached the appropriate position.

``Problem to be Solved by the Invention'' The conventional mouse requires a flat plate 13 because it is used by sliding, and the flat plate 13 usually requires a size of 30 CI 11 squares. Therefore, it is difficult to use in portable computers such as laptop computers.The object of the present invention is to provide a human-powered computer device that has the same functionality as a conventional mouse and does not require a flat board.

[Means for Solving the Problem] According to the present invention, the lower end of the stick that fits the palm of the hand is inserted into the support part, and the support part has a pressure-sensitive device that converts pressure into electrical signals in each direction of inclination of the stick. A conductive rubber is provided, and an electric signal from the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber is converted into an electric pulse by a conversion circuit.

"Embodiment" FIG. 1 shows the principle of this invention, in which the stick 21 is connected to the hand 22.
The lower end of the stick 21 is attached to the support part 2.
3 is inserted. The support part 23 is arranged on the base body 24 and is made of an elastic body such as rubber, and can tilt the stick 21 in all directions.

When pressure is applied to the stick 21 in the x and y directions with the hand 22, strain is generated in the support portion 23, and this strain is converted into an electric signal by a pressure-sensitive resistor (not shown), and the electric signal is converted by a conversion circuit. It is converted into electrical pulses and fed to a computer. The push button switch 2 is activated by the movement of the fingers of the hand 22.
1 to Z can be operated. Two pushbutton switches are usually sufficient.

Specific examples of the stick 21 and the support part 23 are shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. As shown in FIG. 212, and the protrusion 212 is fitted into the inner hole 231 of the support part 23, as shown in FIG. Stick 2
1 is made of hard material such as brass tink. The support part 23 is made of an elastic body such as rubber, and as shown in the fourth panel, pressure-sensitive conductive rubbers 232, 233, 234, and 235 are provided at equal angular intervals, and insulation is provided between these pressure-sensitive conductive rubbers. A sex rubber is inserted.

When pressure is applied in the X direction by the stick 21, the resistance of the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 232 decreases, and the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 233
resistance increases. Lead wire 2 for pressure sensitive conductive rubber
5 is derived as shown in FIG. Electric signals from the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber are converted into electric pulses by a conversion circuit.

A specific example of the conversion circuit is shown in FIG. The pressure-sensitive conductive rubbers 232, 233 together with the resistors 26, 27 constitute a bridge circuit, and the pressure-sensitive conductive rubbers 232, 233 constitute adjacent arms of the bridge circuit.

Ti1IIA28 is connected to this bridge circuit, a dead zone generation circuit 29 is connected to the output side of the bridge circuit, and the output of the dead zone generation circuit 29 is supplied to the voltage controlled oscillator 3I.

When pressure is applied to the support portion 23 in the X direction in FIG. It will be done. The dead zone generating circuit 29 outputs an output when the input voltage exceeds a predetermined value. The voltage controlled oscillator 31 outputs a pulse with a frequency proportional to the input terminal, and outputs an output pulse to the output terminal 32 if the human power is positive, and outputs an output pulse to the output terminal 33 if the human power is negative.

With this electrical connection, the cursor can be easily controlled because the movement of the hand directly corresponds to the movement of the cursor on the computer display, as shown in the explanation of Figure 1. The generating circuit 29 prevents the cursor from moving left and right, up and down, when little pressure is applied.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section of an embodiment of the invention, and parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals. An electronic circuit 34 is mounted on the base body 24, and a push button switch 35 is also mounted thereon, the entire body is covered with a cover 36, and a lead wire 37 is led out from the cover 36.

"Effects of the Invention J According to this invention, the cursor on the computer display can be moved just by the movement of the wrist, and since a flat plate is not required, the input device of the invention can be incorporated into the keyboard of a laptop computer, etc. Also, if you relax your wrist when the cursor approaches the target point, the cursor will move slower, so you don't have to worry about overshooting.The interface can be the same as the mouse commonly used today, and the software can be used as is.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the principle of the invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the stick fitted to the support part, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the stick 21, and FIG. 4 is a view of the support part 23. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a conversion circuit, FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a conventional mouse. Patent applicant: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Co., Ltd. Agent: Takashi Kusano

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) a stick that fits the palm of the hand; a support section into which the lower end of the stick is inserted and has a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber that converts pressure into electrical signals in each direction of inclination of the stick; A conversion circuit that converts electrical signals from rubber into electrical pulses and a key computer input device.