JPH0322016A - Mouse input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a mouse wireless small in size and light in weight by movably providing the mouse to generate a magnetic flux to be intrelinked with a coil on a plane to arrange the coils by parallel lead wires, for which one end is short-circuited, in the shape of a lattice. CONSTITUTION:Coils C by the parallel lead wires, for which one end is short- circuited, are arranged on the plane and the respective coils C are parallelly connected at prescribed intervals so as to constitute a magnetism detecting circuit. On the plane, a mouse 2 is movably provided to generate a magnetic flux phi to be interlinked with the coil C and further, interface function 3 is provided to convert a detecting signal coming from the coil C to an input signal to a computer 6. When the mouse 2 is moved on a mat 1, signals X1-X3 and Y1-Y3 are outputted according to the moving direction of the mouse 2 and the signals X1-X3 and Y1-Y3 are electromotive force proportional with the mov ing direction of the mouse. Then, the moving speed and direction of the mouse 2 are calculated by the interface board 3 and outputted to the computer 6. Thus, the mouse 2 can be made wireless, require no power supply, light in weight and compact.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a mouse input device.

[Prior Art] In recent years, mice have become popular as on-screen cursor pointing devices (e.g. It is widely used as a traditional light pen.

For example, as shown in Fig. 9, this mouse has a ball B whose part protrudes outside the mouse and rotates due to friction with the table surface, etc.
It consists of a row encoder E attached to the rollers R of 1 & Il that are in close contact with each other, and a photo interrupter P that detects the rotation of the row encoder E. When the mouse is moved on the table, the ball B rotates accordingly. Therefore, the photo ink clubter P generates two-phase pulse rf
Outputs 2. These two-phase pulses f, , f, are generated by photointerrupters P 1 & [
The optical sensor L detects the slit of the rotary encoder E, and depending on the direction of rotation, as shown in FIG.
For example, when ball B rotates normally, the output is f,
It outputs an output signal whose phase is t ahead of the output, and in the case of reversal, the f, output is t. Outputs a delayed output signal. Therefore, by comparing the phases of these pulses, it is possible to know the direction of rotation in one direction.If a 1kl rotary encoder E is arranged as shown in this figure, the direction of movement of the mouse can be determined from each azimuth vector. Can be done. Further, the pulses sent from these rotary encoders P are converted into moving distances in the X and Y directions by a dedicated CPU inside the mouse, and are output to a computer via a cable via RS-232C or the like along with the movement vector. [Invention tries to solve it! l! [Problem] However, since the above-mentioned conventional mouse is used for cursor pointing on the screen, it requires a relatively large area (approximately 50 x 50 cm) corresponding to the screen, and the ball surface often gets dirty during use, causing the ball to become dirty. It is easy for slippage to occur between the input device and the roller, which may cause input problems.

In addition, conventional mice are equipped with mechanical parts, electronic circuits, etc., and are structurally complex and heavy.Furthermore, the cables that connect them to the computer are prone to breakage and other malfunctions. There is also a problem in that it is inconvenient to operate.

Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above problems by adding innovation to the mouse input device. [Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, coils made of parallel conducting wires with one end short-circuited are arranged in a lattice shape on a flat plate, and each coil is arranged at a predetermined interval. are connected in parallel to form a magnetic detection circuit, a mouse that generates a magnetic flux that interlinks the coils is movably provided on the flat plate, and the detection signal from the coil is input to the computer. The structure was designed to have an interface function for conversion.

Further, the mouse can be configured such that a vertical disk is provided on the flat plate, a required number of magnets are attached along the outer periphery of the disk, and the mouse is provided with a swing for driving the rotation of the disk.

Furthermore, the mouse may be shaped like a stylus, a disc may be provided at the tip thereof, a required number of magnets may be attached along the outer periphery of the disc, and the stylus pen may be provided with a switch for rotating the disc. The above predetermined 1s. "1ll%" determines the signal detection accuracy, and depends on the magnetic flux generated by the mouse and the spacing between the coils.
It can be determined appropriately through experiments, etc. In addition, the above required number means that with one switch operation,
The number is determined by the number of required signal pulses. [Operation] In the mouse input device constructed in this manner, when the mouse is moved on a flat plate, an electromotive force U (V) is generated by the magnetic flux generated by the mouse in each coil through which the mouse passes. This starting force U (V) is expressed by the formula U-dφ − ,, (V), and changes in proportion to changes in the magnetic flux interlinking the coil. In other words, if the mouse moves quickly, a high voltage will be output, and if the mouse does not move on the flat plate, no voltage will be output. These output signals are output from the parallel outputs of each coil. For example, if every two coils are connected in parallel at a predetermined interval, there will be three parallel outputs. When the mouse moves across these parallel coils, the phase is delayed (with a time delay) according to the order in which the mouse crosses the coils.
3 output signals are output repeatedly. Therefore, one movement direction of the mouse can be determined from this phase difference.

These coils are arranged in a grid pattern (vertically and horizontally), and it is possible to obtain a signal that is orthogonal to the signal from the previous coil. Therefore, if the previous signal is a signal from the X direction, then y
Direction signals are obtained, and the interface processes these signals in vector form and outputs them to the computer. In a computer, for example, an input signal from the interface moves a cursor on the screen. In other words, when the input signal voltage value from the interface, which is proportional to the mouse movement speed, is high, the cursor is moved more and faster in the direction according to the vector of that signal. Conversely, when the input signal voltage value is low, the cursor is moved slightly and slowly in the direction according to the signal vector. Furthermore, when you operate a switch on the surface of the mouse, the internal disk rotates, and this rotation changes the magnetic flux that interlinks the coil created by the disk's magnet, outputting the required number of output signals with no phase difference. For this reason, the interface clearly distinguishes between signals generated by mouse movements and signals generated by switch operations, and outputs switch operation signals to the computer. Furthermore, a stylus pen-shaped mouse allows graphic data to be input by tracing the tip of the mouse along a drawing with a pencil or the like. [Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 8. As shown in FIG. 1, the mouse input device A consists of a mat 1 having a magnetic detection circuit, a mouse 2 that performs input and output signals from the mat 1, and an interface port 3 that interfaces with a computer 6. Intimidated. As shown in Fig. 3, in this mat 1, a plurality of parallel conducting wires (wires) with one end short-circuited are embedded in a lattice shape at equal intervals and insulated from each other, and the surface is coated with resin or the like. It is being done. For this reason, the parallel conducting wires form a large number of coils C in the X and Y directions inside the mat. Every two coils C are connected in parallel, and due to changes in the magnetic flux φ interlinking the coils, X,
In the Y direction, each "X+, X!, Xs and Y, , Y,
, Y3 outputs three output signals. In this way, Mat 1 is only wired with parallel conductive wires and has no electronic parts or circuits, so troubles are extremely rare. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the mouse 2, which moves on the mat 1 to input data, has a magnet m attached therein so as to generate a magnetic flux φ in the direction of the bottom surface of the mouse. When the mouse 2 is placed on top, the magnetic flux φ from the mouse 2 interlinks the coil C at right angles. By appropriately selecting the magnet m inside the mouse 2, the shape of the mouse 2 can be made flat and small. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the mouse 2 is equipped with a required number of magnets m attached along the outer periphery of the internal disk d at equal intervals so as to generate magnetic flux φ in the direction of the bottom surface of the mouse 2. , when the switch SW provided on the mouse 2 is pressed, the disk d
Let it rotate. Then, the magnet m attached to the disk also rotates, and the magnetic flux φ generated by the mouse 2 on the mat 1 changes with the rotation of the disk d. In this way, this mouse 2 has a simple structure,
In addition, it is not connected to the computer 6 by a cable, making it extremely easy to operate. The interface port 3 shown in FIG. 4, which is connected to the mat 1 via a cable, is directly connected to the internal bus of the computer 6, and receives the output signal X from the mat 1.
+, Xt,
, Y+, Yt, and Y1 are converted into digital signals, and based on these signals, the MPU 3e in the board performs processing according to the flowchart in FIG. 6 (processing 301 and the following ``processing'' are omitted). The MPU 3e reads data from the A/D converter 3d (302), processes the data, and processes each X+, X! , Xs and Y+ , Yt
, Ys signals are compared (303), and the moving direction of the mouse 2 is calculated (304).For example, as shown in FIG. 3, every two coils C are connected in parallel,
When the mouse 2 moves from left to right toward the drawing, as shown in FIG.
The signal and the X signal have a phase difference (time delay) τ1, and the X2 signal and the X signal are outputted in the order of the phase difference τ and the time delay. Conversely, when the mouse 2 moves from right to left, the X, signal and the X2 signal have a phase difference of τ3, contrary to the above.
Furthermore, the X,signal and the X,signal are output in a delayed order with a phase difference,τ4,time. Similarly, when the mouse 2 moves from top to bottom or from bottom to top, a phase difference occurs in the Y+, Yt, and Ys signals. Therefore, the MPU 3e can calculate the moving direction of the mouse 2 based on the phase difference of the signals from the input data. Next, the MPtJ3e determines whether a switch SW operation is being performed using the mouse 2 (305).

This is because the disk d rotates in the mouse 2 by operating the switch SW, and when the magnetic flux φ interlinking the coil C changes, the disk d
The required number of signals proportional to the rotation of is output. For example, even if the mouse 2 is located between the two coils C, this signal is transmitted as shown in FIG.
As shown in (C), two outputs X, , X. A repeating signal with no phase difference is output from. For this reason, M.P.
U3e can determine switch SW operation from input data. At this time, if the switch SW is not operated, M
The PU 3e calculates the amount of movement of the mouse 2 from the input data voltage value (306). This means that when the voltage value of the input data is a reference value, for example, the reference value is 1V, and the voltage value of the input data is 3■, the speed is 3 times the movement amount and movement speed of the reference value. Determine the amount of movement so that it moves twice as much. In this way, the amount of movement is determined based on the movement speed of the mouse 2. That is, for example, if you want to move the cursor on the display screen of the computer 6 a lot, such as moving it from one end of the screen to the other, the mat 1
All you have to do is move Mouse 2 quickly on the top, and you can move the cursor a large distance even with a short movement distance. Also, if you want to move the cursor only one position, you can move mouse 2 slowly. Therefore, the mat 1 can be made small and does not require a large space for operation. On the other hand, if the switch SW is operated, the MPU3 e
sets the switch signal flag (310). The MPU 3 e stores a flag indicating the operating state of the switch SW and a mouse 2 according to the data format of the computer 6.
The system code such as the relative mobility of the X and Y coordinates (relative coordinate values from the position where data was output last time) is generated (307) and output (30B). By repeating this process (309), the interface port 3 inputs data from the mouse 2 to the computer 6. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7(a), the mouse 2 may be shaped like a stylus pen 5 with a magnet m inside its tip, or a switch SW may be provided on the body as shown in FIG. 7(a). , by operating this switch SW, the disk d inside the tip
If you make it rotate, you can use it like a familiar pencil, making it easier to use than Mouse 2. Also, when inputting data, you only need to move the tip back and forth or left and right. It can be made smaller than when in use. In this way, since this mouse input device fA is an input device that utilizes changes in magnetic flux φ, there is no problem in signal detection even if a magnetic material such as paper is placed between the mouse 2 and the mat 1. Therefore, it is ideal for inputting figures such as drawings. In particular, the 5-shaped stylus pen is ideal for inputting detailed figures. This embodiment is configured as described above,
Now, when mouse 2 is moved on mat 1, XI, X2, X3 and Y1, Y,
, Y3 signals are output. This signal is an electromotive force proportional to the moving speed of the mouse 2, so the interface port 3 calculates the moving speed and direction of the mouse 2 from the signal and outputs it to the computer 6. Also, when you operate the switch SW of mouse 2 on mat 1, X,, Xs, Xs, 'I'+, Yt, Ys
Since a continuous signal with no phase difference is output during the signal,
The interface port 3 detects the switch operation from this signal and outputs it to the computer 6 to correspond to the predetermined switch function. On the other hand, when the tip of the stylus ben 5 is moved back and forth and left and right on the mat 1, the amount of movement in the X and Y directions is output.
Also, if you press switch SW on mat 1, switch S
The W operation is detected and output to the computer 6 through the interface port 3, similar to the mouse 2. In this way, the mouse 2 and stylus pen 5 only have a magnet m attached to them, and there is no cable to connect them to the computer 6, so they are structurally simple, small, and lightweight, so they are easy to operate, trouble-free, and reliable. expensive. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the above-mentioned coil C is, for example,
The core is made of ferromagnetic material such as iron or ferrite.
By using a coil C made of multiple turns of conductive wire as 10, the magnetic flux generated by the mouse 2 can be captured without waste, and the output voltage can be increased. Therefore, the sense amplifier 3a and the like can be omitted.

Further, the interface port 3 can also be provided within the mat 1. In addition, X+, Xz, X, and Y
A/D converter 3d for each input of +, Yz, Ys
By providing this, it is possible to obtain the same operation as in the previous embodiment.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7), by providing the switch SW on the cloak 1', the switch SW of the mouse 2 and stylus pen 5 can be omitted. [Effects] Since the present invention is configured as described above, the mouse is made wireless, requires no power supply, is lightweight and compact, and improves operability. In addition, input operations do not require a large area and do not use a ball, so there is no problem with input due to slipping. Furthermore, the mat section is made up of only a coil of conductive wire, and the electronic circuit is located on the ink face port that connects to the computer, so failures are extremely rare, and not only is reliability high, but it can also be produced at low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2(a)
, ~) is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the mouse in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the coil arrangement in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a block diagram of the interface τ spode in Figure 1, and Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the mouse in Figure 1. FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of FIG. 4, FIGS. 7(a) and (b) are partial cross-sectional schematic diagrams of the stylus ben according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is another implementation of the coil shown in FIG. 3. For example, FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a conventional mouse, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of FIG. 1...Mat, C...Coil, 2...Mouse, φ...
Magnetic flux, 3...Interface port, 5...
...Stylus pen, m...m stone, SW.
...Switch, d...Disk, A.
...Mouse input device.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Coils made of parallel conducting wires with one end short-circuited are arranged in a grid on a flat plate, each coil is connected in parallel at a predetermined interval to form a magnetic detection circuit, and the coils are chained on the flat plate. What is claimed is: 1. A mouse input device comprising a movable mouse that generates intersecting magnetic fluxes, and further comprising an interface function for converting a detection signal from the coil into an input signal to a computer. (2) The mouse according to claim (1) is provided with a perpendicular disk on the flat plate, a required number of magnets are attached along the outer periphery of the disk, and the mouse is provided with a rotation drive switch for the disk. A mouse input device characterized by: (3) The mouse according to claim (1) or (2) is shaped like a stylus pen, a disk is provided at the tip thereof, a required number of magnets are attached along the outer periphery of the disk, and the mouse is shaped like a stylus pen. A mouse input device characterized by being provided with a rotation drive switch.