JPH08137606A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent deterioration with age and to improve the extension performance by providing a ray emission section emitting a ray with a characteristic reflected on a reflection object, a ray reception section and a touch sensor onto a plane panel. CONSTITUTION: When a reflection object such as a palm is twisted in every direction in an upper space of the input device, the position of a ray reception section 3 to which a reflected light by the palm arrives is changed. m×n-sets of the ray reception sections 3 detect the change in the arrived position. Furthermore, a touch sensor 4 senses whether or not a hand touches on the touch sensor 4 arranged on the ray reception section 3. Data obtained as above are fed to a CPU 6 via a transmission line 9, the data from the ray reception section 3 are converted into x, y relative values representing the coordinate and data from the touch sensor 4 are converted into an enter signal and the converted data are sent externally via a data output interface 7. When a thermosensing sensor 5 does not sense a human body, the CPU 6 stops power supply to a ray emission section 2 or the like.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device for inputting information to a system or device such as an information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as an input device for inputting data, programs and the like to various systems and devices from the outside, devices having expandability have been demanded because of the wide variety of systems and devices. Further, since aging deterioration of parts is accompanied by complicated repair work, an input device with less aging deterioration has been demanded.

Conventionally, various input devices such as a keyboard, a touch panel, a mechanical mouse, an optical mouse, a trackball, and a joystick have been put into practical use as input devices in information processing devices such as computers.

Further, as a remote control device which is a kind of input device for giving command data from the outside to control a system or a device, there is conventionally one as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, 30 is a remote control device, 31 is a numeric keypad, 32 is various operation switches,
33 is a power switch and 34 is a connection cable. This configuration is an example, and the configuration is different from that of the remote control device of FIG. 5 depending on the type of system or device as a control target. For example, the operation switch 32 is A in FIG.
Although it is ~ L, it may be A ~ H or A ~ P. In the conventional remote control device 30 configured as described above, when the power of the system or device is turned on by depressing the power switch 33, the system or device is caused to perform the operation intended by the operator. The numeric keypad 31 and the operation switch 32 are operated.
When the power switch 33 is pressed down again, the power supply of the above system or device is turned off.

[0006]

However, the conventional keyboard, touch panel, mouse, and other devices and the remote control device 30 basically have movable parts, and have a problem that deterioration over time cannot be avoided. Was there.

In addition, for example, already a graphical user
As an input device for pointing a graphical screen established as an interface (GUI, Graphical User Interface) with an arrow cursor, there was a problem that expandability would be poor unless a more flexible input form was used. .

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an input device which can effectively prevent deterioration over time and has expandability.

[0009]

In order to achieve this object, an input device according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a light ray emitting portion for emitting a light ray having a characteristic of being reflected by a reflection object, and a light ray emitting portion. It has a configuration in which a plurality of light ray receiving units that receive the reflected light rays of the emitted light ray by the reflection target object and a touch sensor that detects that the reflection target object touches are provided on the flat panel.

An input device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the input device according to the first aspect, wherein the temperature sensor outputs a temperature signal when it detects that the temperature of the object to be reflected is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, and a light beam emitting section based on the temperature signal. , A light receiving unit and a control unit for controlling power supply to the touch sensor.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to the first or second aspect, the number of light beam transmitting units is the same as the number of light beam receiving units.

An input device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention displays a mode select switch for selecting an operation mode of the system or the device and a switch corresponding to the operation mode selected by the mode select switch, and the corresponding display portion is displayed. The liquid crystal display unit includes a touch switch screen on which a touch sensor is arranged, and an infrared light emitting unit for wirelessly transmitting a command based on the touch switch.

Here, it is also possible to detect a reflection target object by using a magnetic field instead of the light beam of the light beam transmitting section and detecting a change in the magnetic field. Further, it is possible to connect to an external device by using radio waves, light, or sound instead of the infrared rays of the infrared emitting section.

[0014]

With the above structure, the reflecting object, for example, the palm is moved on the flat panel of the input device to change the reflection position of the light beam emitted from the light ray emitting section, and the light ray receiving section detects the change and detects the change. Since the signal to be shown can be output to the outside, for example, the information processing device, the pointer such as the cursor on the screen can be moved two-dimensionally. At this time, so-called "enter processing" (Enter processing) on the keyboard can be performed by touching the touch sensor with a hand.

As a result, since the input can be made completely non-contact, deterioration over time can be prevented. Further, the pointer can be moved two-dimensionally by moving the palm, and the input method can be flexibly defined, so that expandability can be increased.

Further, when the temperature-sensitive sensor recognizes that there is no reflective object such as a human body on the flat panel, the control unit stops the power supply to the light-beam emitting unit, the light-beam receiving unit and the touch sensor. Power consumption when not in use is prevented.

Further, by installing the same number of the light ray transmitting sections and the light ray receiving sections, the reflected light rays corresponding to the respective light rays are generated, so that the state recognition of the reflecting object becomes more accurate.

Furthermore, since the touch switches necessary for the operation mode of the system or device selected by the mode select switch are displayed on the touch switch screen of the liquid crystal display unit and the displayed touch switches can be operated, it is possible to input completely. It can be in contact, and deterioration over time can be prevented. Further, since the touch switches corresponding to various operation modes are displayed on the touch switch screen, it is possible to flexibly deal with the change of the input method and increase the expandability.

[0019]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an input device, 2 is a light beam transmission unit arranged on the flat panel of the input device 1, 3 is a light beam receiving unit also arranged on the flat panel of the input device 1, and 4 is a light beam receiving unit 3. The touch sensor 5 arranged above detects whether or not a reflective object, for example, a human body, is present on the flat panel of the input device according to whether the temperature of the reflective object is a predetermined temperature or higher. For example, a temperature sensor that outputs a temperature signal a, 6 is a CPU as a control unit that controls the entire apparatus, 7 is a data output interface for outputting data, programs, etc. to an external device such as a computer, and 8 is power to each unit. Power supply circuit,
Reference numeral 9 is a transmission line for transmitting the data output from the light beam receiving unit 3, touch sensor 4 and temperature sensor 5 to the CPU 6, and 10 is the information output from the CPU 6 via a data output interface 7 such as a computer. A transmission line for transferring to the processing device, 11 a transmission line for transmitting command data output from the CPU 6 to the power supply circuit 8,
Reference numeral 12 is a power supply line for supplying electric power from the power supply circuit 8 to the light beam emitting unit 2, the light beam receiving unit 3, and the touch sensor 4.
The light ray receiving unit 3 is two-dimensionally arranged in m × n, and the light ray emitted from the light ray emitting unit 2 passes through the touch sensor 4.

Next, the operation of the input device 1 of FIG. 1 will be described. When the input device 1 is connected to an information processing device such as a computer via a transmission line 10 like a conventional pointing device and the power supply circuit 8 of the input device 1 is turned on, the temperature sensor 5 starts operating. If the object to be reflected, for example, a human body is on the flat panel of the input device 1, the temperature sensor 5 detects that the body temperature is a predetermined temperature, for example, 30 ° C. or higher, and outputs a temperature signal a. When the CPU 6 receives the temperature signal a, it supplies the power source circuit 8 with power to the light source 2, the light receiver 3, and the touch sensor 4.
Command through 1.

The light beam transmitting unit 2, the light beam receiving unit 3, and the touch sensor 4 start operating when supplied with power from the power supply circuit 8. The light ray emitted from the light ray emitting section 2 is emitted at an angle as shown by an arrow 13 in FIG. That is, the light ray is emitted obliquely upward. In FIG. 2, (a) is a plan view of the input device 1, (b) is a front view of the input device 1, and (c).
FIG. 3 is a side view of the input device 1.

In such an operating state, the input device 1
In the upper space of the object such as the palm (that is, the part that easily reflects the light rays emitted from the light ray emission section 2)
When is twisted up, down, left, and right, the position where the light reflected by the palm reaches the light beam receiving unit 3 changes. This change in the reaching position is detected by the m × n light ray receiving units 3. In addition, the touch sensor 4 detects whether or not the hand touches the touch sensor 4 arranged on the light beam receiving unit 3. These data are sent to the CPU 6 through the transmission line 9, the data from the light beam receiving unit 3 are converted into relative values of x and y indicating the coordinates, and the data from the touch sensor 4 are converted into an enter signal, and a data output interface. It is sent to an external device such as an information processing device through 7.

In the above operation, the reflecting object, for example, a part of the human body is on the flat panel of the input device 1 and the light receiving section 3 is used.
Is periodically performed while detecting any reception state change. When the temperature sensor 5 does not detect the presence of the human body, the CPU does not detect the presence of the human body and the predetermined time T seconds elapses.
6 outputs a command to the power supply circuit 8 via the transmission line 11 to stop the power supply to the light beam transmitting unit 2, the light beam receiving unit 3, and the touch sensor 4. Power supply circuit 8 that received this command
Disconnects the transmission line 12 in order to stop the power supply to the light beam transmitting unit 2, the light beam receiving unit 3, and the touch sensor 4.

When restarting the light beam transmitting unit 2, the light beam receiving unit 3, and the touch sensor 4, the temperature sensor 5 detects the presence of a human body again, and the CPU 6 outputs a power supply restart command to the power supply circuit 8 to turn on the power supply. This is performed by the circuit 8 restarting the power supply to the light beam transmitting unit 2, the light beam receiving unit 3, and the touch sensor 4.

(Second Embodiment) An input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. The configuration of the input device 1A of FIG. 3 is the same as that of FIG. 1, but the arrangement structure of the light beam emitting section 2 is different. In FIG. 3, the light ray transmitting unit 2 is arranged in a two-dimensional m × n manner, like the light ray receiving unit 3.
m × n light beam receiving units 3 are arranged in pairs on the n light beam transmitting units 2, and the touch sensor 4 is further arranged thereon. The point that the light beam transmitted from the light beam transmission unit 2 passes through the touch sensor 4 is the same as in the first embodiment. 3 (a), (b), and (c) are shown in FIG.
It is a top view, a front view, and a side view of input device 1A corresponding to (b) and (c), respectively.

Next, the detection of the state of the reflecting object will be described. When a reflection target object, for example, a palm is placed on the flat panel of the input device 1A, the light emitted from the light beam emitting unit 2 is transmitted as shown in FIG.
The light ray indicated by arrow 14 is reflected by the palm, and the reflected light ray is received by the light ray receiving unit 3. M of this ray receiver 3
The state of the reflection target object (palm) is detected by the presence or absence of reception in the × n two-dimensional space. In addition, the light receiving unit 3
Can also recognize the movement of the reflection target in the up, down, left, right, and diagonal directions. The result of detecting the state of the reflection target is converted into various commands by the CPU 6 and output to an external device such as an information processing device through the data output interface 7.

In the first and second embodiments,
Although the detection of the state of the reflecting object is performed by the light beam, the detection may be performed by the magnetic field. That is, a magnetic field generation unit may be provided instead of the light beam transmission unit, and a magnetic detection unit may be provided instead of the light beam reception unit. In this case, since a part of the human body, for example, the hand, is not a ferromagnetic material, it is more effective to wind the ferromagnetic material strip around the hand.

(Embodiment 3) An input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a remote control device 20 as an input device. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 21 denotes a liquid crystal display unit, which is a liquid crystal display (LCD, Liquid Crystal D) on which a ten-key pad 23 and various operation switches 24 are displayed.
25 is a mode select switch for selecting an operation mode according to a system or a device connected to the remote control device 20, and 26 is a system for controlling the remote control device 20. An infrared light emitting unit that emits infrared light to connect to the device and a device, and 27 is a power switch for activating the remote control device 20 when the power is turned on.

Next, the operation of the remote control device 20 thus configured will be described.

By pressing the power switch 27,
The system or the remote control device 20 as a control target connected through the infrared light emitting unit 26 is powered on. The power source of the remote control device 20 itself may be a built-in battery or an external power source. At the same time when the power of the system or the remote control device 20 is turned on, the liquid crystal display unit 21 is also turned on. At this time, the liquid crystal display unit 21 displays a description of each of the divided operation modes of the system and the remote control device 20. Looking at this display, the operator uses the mode select switch 25 to select the intended operation mode.

When the operator selects an operation mode, a simple display of the selected operation mode is displayed on the liquid crystal display section 21. In addition, a ten key 23 as a touch switch required only for the selected operation mode, Operation switch 24
Is also displayed. Therefore, the operator can operate the system or apparatus as intended by the operator by pressing only the ten-key 23 and the operation switch 24 necessary for the selected operation mode. When the operator wants to shift to the next operation mode, the mode select switch 2 is pressed again.
The next operation mode is selected by 5, and the same operation as above is performed.

When the power of the system or apparatus to be controlled is turned off, the power switch 27 is depressed again. As a result, the power of the system and the device is turned off and the power of the liquid crystal display unit 21 is turned off. As described above, the remote control device 20 includes the numeric keypad 23 as a conventional component.
The numeric keypad 2 displayed on the touch switch screen 22 of the liquid crystal display unit 21 without being operated by the or operation switch 24.
3. Since it is operated by the operation switch 24,
It eliminates the moving parts that used to exist and can prevent deterioration over time. Further, the contents of the ten-key pad 23 and the operation switch 24 displayed on the touch switch screen 22 can be easily changed according to the operation mode, which is highly flexible. Furthermore, since only the touch switches related to the operation mode selected by the operator are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21, and the touch switches not related to the operation mode selected by the operator are not displayed on the display unit 21, the remote control device 20 is displayed. It is possible to prevent an erroneous operation of the system or device by the operator when operating the. Furthermore, since the contents displayed on the screen of the system or device to be controlled can be easily displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21, the troublesomeness of seeing the screen display of the system or device each time the operation is performed. Can be avoided. Further, since the infrared ray emitting section 26 is wireless, the remote control device 20 can be easily moved.

Although the system or device to be controlled and the remote control device 20 are connected by the infrared ray emitting section 26, that is, infrared rays, this may be done by radio waves, light or sound. In particular, the use of ultrasonic waves will not be heard by the operator and will not interfere with other equipment.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the light ray transmitting section for transmitting the light ray having the characteristic of being reflected by the reflecting object and the ray reflected by the reflecting object for the light ray emitted by the light ray transmitting section are received. By providing a plurality of light beam receiving units and a touch sensor for detecting that the reflective object is touching on the flat panel, the input is completely non-contact, so that deterioration over time is prevented and the reflective object, for example, Since the pointer moves two-dimensionally by the movement of the palm, the input method is flexibly defined, and an input device with increased expandability can be realized.

Further, a temperature sensitive sensor which detects whether or not the temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature and outputs a temperature signal when the temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, and electric power to the light ray emitting portion, the light ray receiving portion and the touch sensor by the temperature signal. The addition of the control unit for controlling the supply prevents power consumption when the device is not used, so that an input device with low power consumption can be realized.

Further, since the number of light ray transmitting sections is set to be the same as that of the light ray receiving sections, reflected light rays are generated in accordance with the respective light rays, so that an input device which realizes more accurate state recognition of the reflecting object is realized. can do.

Further, a mode select switch for selecting an operation mode of the system or the device, a liquid crystal display section including a touch switch screen for displaying only a touch switch corresponding to the operation mode selected by the mode select switch, and a touch panel By providing an infrared light emitting unit for wirelessly transmitting a command based on the switch, the input is completely non-contact, so deterioration over time is prevented, and a touch switch corresponding to the operation mode is displayed on the screen. Therefore, it is possible to realize an input device in which the input method is made flexible and the expandability is increased. In addition, since only the touch switches related to the operation mode selected by the operator are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit, it is possible to prevent erroneous operation of the control target, and the contents displayed on the screen of the control target are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit. Since it can be easily displayed, it is possible to avoid the trouble of seeing the screen display of the controlled object each time the operation is performed, and since the device is wireless by infrared rays, it is possible to realize an input device that can be easily moved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a plan view of an input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2B is a front view of the input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2C is a front view of the input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Side view of input device

FIG. 3A is a plan view of an input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B is a front view of an input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Side view of input device

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Input Device 2 Ray Transmitter 3 Ray Receiver 4 Touch Sensor 5 Temperature Sensor 6 CPU (Control) 7 Data Output Interface 8 Power Supply Circuit 9, 10, 11 Transmission Line 12 Power Supply Line

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A light ray emitting unit that emits a light ray having a characteristic of being reflected by an object to be reflected, and a plurality of ray receiving units that receives the light rays emitted by the light ray emitting unit and reflected by the object to be reflected. An input device, comprising: a flat panel; and a touch sensor for detecting that the reflective object touches. 2. A temperature-sensitive sensor that outputs a temperature signal when it is detected that the temperature of the reflection target is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, and a temperature sensor outputs a temperature signal to the light beam transmission unit, the light beam reception unit, and the touch sensor. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that controls power supply. 3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the number of the light beam transmitters is the same as that of the light beam receivers. 4. A mode select switch for selecting an operation mode of a system or an apparatus and a switch corresponding to the operation mode selected by the mode select switch are displayed, and the touch sensor is arranged on the corresponding display portion. The input device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a liquid crystal display unit including a touch switch screen and an infrared light emitting unit for wirelessly transmitting a command based on the touch switch.