JPH08161110A - Input device for computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an input device for a computer which can optionally move a cursor while holding an operator's hand on a home position of a keyboard to reduce operator's load and fatigue and surely execute operation at a low cost. CONSTITUTION: The input device for the computer consists of a base 2, a sliding mechanism 4, a keyboard part 3 supported on the base 2 through the mechanism 4 so as to be relatively displaced from the base 2, a sensor part 7 for detecting the direction and quantity of relative displacement between the base 2 and the keyboard part 3, and a signal generating part for outputting a keyboard moving signal to the computer based upon an output from the sensor part 7 and the mechanism 4 converts the horizontal displacement of the keyboard part 3 into vertical displacement to surely restore the keyboard part 3 to a neutral point by the positional energy of the keyboard part 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device such as a computer and a word processor, and more particularly to a pointing device-integrated computer input device for controlling a cursor on a display while keeping a hand on a home position of a keyboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a keyboard is generally used as a computer input device, and a mouse, a trackball or a joystick is used as a pointing device for freely moving a cursor on a display. However, since the input device and the pointing device are separate devices independent of each other, when the key input and the movement of the cursor are frequently repeated, the operator does not use the input device and the pointing device. The operator had to move his hands back and forth, and the burden and fatigue on the operator associated with the work increased, hindering smooth operation. Further, although the mouse requires a large area for the operation and the trackball does not require a large area, there is a problem that the fingertips are frequently used during the operation and are easily fatigued. Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123916, a keyboard portion configured to be relatively displaceable on a base is displaced in a predetermined direction, and the displacement is It is known that the operator can operate the cursor while detecting the detection while maintaining the home position of the keyboard. Further, in the above-mentioned configuration, when the operator is not applying a force to the keyboard portion, the keyboard portion is neutralized using casters and a plurality of elastic supporting members so that the cursor does not move against the operator's will. Had been returned to the position (hereinafter referred to as the neutral point).

[0003]

However, in the neutral point returning mechanism including the plurality of elastic supporting members and the casters as described above, the number of components is large and the cost is high, and the keyboard portion is the neutral point. Requires a delicate adjustment so that the plurality of elastic support members are in an equilibrium state, and the equilibrium state is broken due to variations in aging of each elastic support member, and the neutral point is displaced from the initial position. Therefore, the cursor may move against the operator's will. Further, since the elastic coefficient of the elastic support member cannot be increased so much due to the operating force of the operator, the movement resistance of the casters increases when the weight of the keyboard portion is heavy, so that the keyboard portion can be reliably operated. However, there is a risk that it will not return to the neutral point, and it cannot always be said that it can meet the expectations of the user. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide an input device for a computer that operates reliably at low cost and reduces the burden and fatigue on the operator.

[0004]

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a base, a slide mechanism disposed on the base, and the base on the base via the slide mechanism. Based on an output signal from the sensor unit, a keyboard unit supported so as to be relatively displaceable, a sensor unit including a relative displacement detection unit that detects relative displacement between the base and the keyboard unit. An input device for a computer comprising a calculating means for calculating a moving direction and a moving speed of a cursor and a signal generating section for generating a signal for moving the cursor to a computer according to a result calculated by the calculating means. In the above, the keyboard portion is supported on the base through the slide mechanism so as to be displaceable relative to the base, and the slide mechanism is provided between the base and the keyboard portion. The horizontal planes provided by the substantially spherical recesses and the spheres disposed in the recesses on at least one of the surfaces facing each other, or on the surfaces facing each other of the base and the keyboard. And a substantially stone-shaped rolling element arranged between the horizontal planes to convert a horizontal displacement into a vertical displacement and generate a restoring force to a neutral point by potential energy of the keyboard portion. By the above, the above-mentioned object is achieved.

[0005]

In the input device for a computer according to the present invention, a keyboard portion having a large number of keys for inputting data on the upper surface is supported on a base so as to be relatively displaceable through a slide mechanism, and an operator can The keyboard unit is displaced relative to the base by applying a force to the keyboard unit in a direction in which the cursor is desired to be moved, and the sensor unit detects the direction and amount of the displacement. An output signal from the input to the signal generating unit, the calculating means of the signal generating unit calculates the moving direction and moving speed of the cursor based on the output signal from the sensor unit,
A signal corresponding to the moving direction and moving speed of the cursor is generated by the signal generating means of the signal generating unit, and the signal is output to the computer to move the cursor on the display according to the intention of the operator. The slide mechanism includes a substantially spherical recess provided on at least one of the surfaces of the base and the keyboard portion facing each other, and a sphere arranged in the recess, or the base and the slide. Horizontal displacements are converted into vertical displacements by horizontal planes respectively arranged on the surfaces of the keyboard portion facing each other and rolling elements in the shape of a go stone arranged between the horizontal planes, and neutralized by the potential energy of the keyboard portion. By generating a restoring force for the displacement from the point, the keyboard is surely returned to the neutral point.

[0006]

EXAMPLES Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of a computer input device according to this embodiment. The keyboard body 1 is composed of a base 2, a keyboard portion 3, and a slide mechanism 4, and the keyboard portion 3 is supported via the slide mechanism 4 so as to be displaceable relative to the base 2. The surface of the keyboard portion 3 facing the base 2 has a concave shape in the sensor storage portion 10
The sensor unit 7 is housed in the sensor housing unit 10.

2 and 3 are schematic views showing the concept of one embodiment of the slide mechanism according to the present invention. The slide mechanism 4 includes a base 2 and a keyboard portion 3 of the keyboard body 1.
It is composed of a pair of substantially spherical recesses 5 and 5 and spheres 6 provided on the surfaces facing each other. The sphere 6 has a diameter smaller than the diameters of the substantially spherical recesses 5 and 5 and larger than twice the depth of the recesses 5 and 5 at the deepest part, and between the pair of facing recesses 5 and 5. Being held in.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the keyboard portion 3 is slid in any direction, the sphere 6 rolls and the base 2 and the keyboard portion 3 are relatively displaced. At this time, the sphere 6 rolls up on the curved surface of the depression 5 and is lifted up by a small amount to increase the potential energy, and the potential energy restores the keyboard portion 3 to the neutral point. Power is generated. Therefore, in the slide mechanism of the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for returning the keyboard portion 3 to the neutral point by using an elastic supporting member such as a spring.
Further, in the sliding mechanism according to the present embodiment, since the spherical body 6 serves as a bearing, a smooth feel without friction feeling can be obtained when sliding, and the neutral point is surely achieved even if the weight of the keyboard portion 3 is heavy. Can be returned to. Further, the spherical body 6 may be made of a hard material such as a resin or a metal, or may be a slightly flexible one such as a rubber ball, a hard sponge ball or a rubber ball with an iron core. Good. When the spherical body 6 having the above-mentioned slight flexibility is used, unnecessary vibration of the keyboard portion 3 during typing can be suppressed, and a smooth and soft feeling can be obtained when the slide mechanism 4 is slid. There is an effect such as. Also, normally, the slide mechanism 4
Are arranged at the four corners of the base 2 and the keyboard portion 3 is
It supports points, but slide mechanism 4 is arranged in a triangular shape to
You can use it as a point support.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of displacement from the neutral point of the slide mechanism 4 and the restoring force in this embodiment. As shown in the graph, the restoring force of the slide mechanism 4 to the neutral point has a characteristic that it increases in proportion to the amount of displacement from the neutral point.
The larger the horizontal force applied to the keyboard 3, the larger the displacement of the keyboard unit 3. Further, as the radius of curvature of the curved surface of the substantially spherical depressions 5, 5 becomes smaller, the relationship between the displacement amount and the restoring force becomes more prominent. Therefore, the characteristics of the slide mechanism 4 can be changed by changing the curvature of the depressions 5, 5. Can be adjusted. Further, the outline of the recess 5 is usually circular, but by making the outline of the recess 5 substantially elliptic as shown in FIG. 5, the maximum displacement amount and characteristics of the slide mechanism 4 are changed depending on the direction of displacement. It can also be configured. As another embodiment of the slide mechanism 4, as shown in FIG. 6, one-tenth to two-thirds of the diameter of the spherical body 6 is provided in the substantially central portion of at least one of the substantially spherical depressions 5 and 5. By forming the hole 15 having a diameter, it is possible to provide an appropriate click at the neutral position and prevent unnecessary wobbling of the keyboard portion 3 at the time of key input. Also,
In the slide mechanism of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, the substantially spherical recess 5 is provided in the base 2 or the keyboard portion 3.
It may be provided only on one of the two. in this case,
The diameter of the sphere 6 is smaller than the diameter of the substantially spherical depression 5,
Moreover, it is sufficient that the recess 5 has a diameter larger than the depth of the deepest portion. Since at least a sufficient frictional force is required between the sphere 6 and the surface of the base 2 and the keyboard portion 3 in contact with the sphere 6, at least one of the surface in contact with the sphere 6 and the sphere 6 is required. It is necessary to use a material with a high friction coefficient such as rubber. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, rolling elements 16 having a substantially go-stone shape may be arranged in place of the spherical body 6. In this case, it is not always necessary to provide the recesses 5 and 5 in the base 2 and the keyboard portion 3. In this case as well, sufficient frictional force is required between the rolling element 16 and the surface of the base 2 and the keyboard portion 3 in contact with the rolling element 16, so that the rolling element 16 of the base 2 and the keyboard portion 3 is brought into contact with the rolling element 16. A material having a high friction coefficient must be used for at least one of the rolling surface and the rolling element 16.

FIG. 9 schematically shows an embodiment of the sensor section according to the present invention. The relative displacement detecting means of the sensor unit 7 is composed of two reflective photosensors 8 and 8 arranged at a certain angle to each other, and a reflecting plate 9 corresponding thereto. In this embodiment, the two reflective photosensors 8, 8 are fixed to the keyboard portion 3 and the reflector 9 is fixed to the base 2, but the reflective photosensor 8 is fixed to the base 2. The reflector 9 may be fixed and the reflector 9 may be fixed to the keyboard portion 3. Further, in the present embodiment, the two reflective photosensors 8 and 8 are arranged at an angle of 90 degrees, but the angle is not limited to this, and an angle other than 90 degrees may be used. Good. Generally, the reflection type photo sensor has a characteristic that the output changes according to the change in the distance between the reflection type photo sensor 8 and the reflection plate 9.
In this embodiment, when the base 2 and the keyboard portion 3 are relatively displaced, the distance between the reflective photosensor 8 and the reflective plate 9 changes, and the output of the reflective photosensor 8 changes. By detecting the change, the relative displacement between the base 2 and the keyboard unit 3 is detected. Further, in this embodiment, the two reflection type photosensors 8 and 8 are arranged at an angle of 90 degrees with each other, and the reflection plate 9 is arranged so as to face each reflection type photosensor 8 and 8. ing. As a result, these two reflective photosensors 8 and 8 detect the displacements of the keyboard portion 3 in the X and Y axes, respectively.

Generally, since the reflection type photosensor does not operate normally in the place where external light is incident, it is desirable that the sensor housing 10 in which the sensor unit 7 is arranged has a structure for blocking external light. However, practically, it is sufficient if the incidence of light from the outside is restricted to the extent that the reflective photosensor 8 does not malfunction in the state in which the input device for a computer according to the present invention is used. In FIG. 9, the reflection plate 9 has a shape in which one reflection plate is bent into an L-shape.
Independently corresponding reflectors may be provided corresponding to. The positional relationship between the two reflective photosensors 8 and 8 is not limited to that shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the output characteristics of the reflective photosensor 8. In this embodiment, of the characteristic curves shown in the graph of FIG. 10, either the A portion or the B portion where the relationship between the input and the output is relatively linear is used, and the reflection photosensor 8 and the reflection photosensor 8 are reflected. The distance of the plate 9 is detected. Then, the output signal from the reflective photosensor 8 is input to the signal generator 11 as shown in the block diagram of FIG. In the signal generating section 11, the calculating means calculates the moving direction and moving speed of the cursor based on the output signal of the reflection type photosensor 8, and the signal generating means generates signals corresponding to the moving direction and moving speed of the cursor, The signal is output to the computer 12.

A method of controlling the cursor based on the output of the reflection type photo sensor will be described below. 12 is shown in FIG.
3B is a diagram in which only part B of the characteristic curve shown in the output characteristic diagram of FIG. The distance between the reflective photosensor 8 and the reflective plate 9 when the slide mechanism 4 is in the neutral position is d _0, and the output of the reflective photosensor 8 at that time is α ₀ . The signal generator 11 does not output a cursor control signal to the computer 12 when the output from the reflection type photosensor 8 is α ₀ , but the distance between the reflection type photosensor 8 and the reflection plate 9 changes and reflection occurs. When the output from the mold photosensor 8 changes, a cursor control signal corresponding to the direction and magnitude of the change is output to the computer 12. For example, by moving the keyboard unit 3 to the left, the distance between the reflection type photo sensor 8 and the reflection plate 9 is changed from d ₀ to d.
₁ and the output of the reflective photosensor 8 changes from α ₀ to α
Suppose it changed to ₁ . The signal generator calculates α ₁ −α ₀ , and when the result is positive, a signal for moving the cursor to the left is generated, and when the result is negative (when the keyboard unit 3 is moved to the right), the cursor is moved to the right. A signal is generated and a signal for increasing the moving speed of the cursor in proportion to the magnitude of the absolute value of the difference between α ₁ and α ₀ is generated. FIG. 13 shows the relationship between the displacement amount from the neutral position of the keyboard portion 3 and the moving speed of the cursor. The moving speed of the cursor increases in proportion to the displacement amount from the neutral position of the keyboard portion 3. After the moving speed of the cursor reaches the maximum speed, the moving speed of the cursor does not change even if the displacement amount further increases. The sensor unit 7 has two reflective photosensors 8, 8 arranged at an angle of 90 degrees to each other. One of the reflective photosensors 8 detects the displacement of the keyboard unit 3 in the X-axis, and the other. The reflection type photo sensor 8 is adapted to detect the Y-axis displacement of the keyboard portion 3. The relative displacement detecting means of the sensor unit 7 is not limited to the above-mentioned one, and a known means for outputting the relative displacement as an electric signal can be used.

In the present invention, the signal generating section 11 is designed to increase the moving speed of the cursor as the absolute value of the change in the output of the sensor section 7 becomes larger. The cursor moves at a high speed when the force is large and at a low speed when the force is small. Therefore, even when the cursor is moved largely or the position of the cursor is finely adjusted, the operator only needs to adjust the horizontal force applied to the keyboard unit 3, and the operator does not need to touch the hand or fingertip like a mouse or a trackball. You don't have to move a lot.

FIG. 14 shows the upper surface of the keyboard body 1 and the operator's hand placed at the home position in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, in the present embodiment, when the operator places his or her hand at the home position on the upper surface of the keyboard body 1, the palm of the base of the thumb of the operator (part a in FIG. 15) is located. Since the input keys 20 and 21 for the pointing device are arranged at the positions to be operated, the operator can point at the base of the thumb of the palm (a in FIG. 15) without moving the finger while keeping the hand at the home position. A click operation or the like accompanying the operation can be performed. Further, since the thumb tip is free even while operating the input keys 20 and 21 for the pointing device, the input keys 20 and 20 for the pointing device
21 and other keys (for example, the space key) can be operated simultaneously.

As a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the keyboard part accommodates the sensor part 7,
It is also possible to include a slide base 30 supported on the base 2 via the slide mechanism 4 so as to be relatively displaceable, and a keyboard 31 integrally supported on the slide base 30. The keyboard 31 is a commercially available keyboard or the like, and can be applied to a computer or the like using a keyboard having a special key arrangement. Moreover, since a commercially available notebook computer or the like can be mounted instead of the keyboard 31, efficient operation can be realized even when the space on the desk is very small.

[0016]

As described above, in the computer input device according to the present invention, the operator puts his / her hand on the home position of the keyboard for key input, and also puts the cursor on the keyboard with the hand on the home position. By applying force in the desired direction and displacing the keyboard portion of the keyboard body by a small amount, the cursor on the display can be moved as the operator desires. As a result, even when the key input and the cursor movement are frequently repeated, the operator's burden and fatigue can be reduced, and smooth operation can be realized. Further, in an embodiment in which the pointing device key is located where the palm of the base of the thumb of the operator's hand in the home position is located, the operator moves the finger with the hand in the home position. It is possible to perform a click operation or the like without doing so, and to perform a combined operation of a click operation or a drag operation and a key input with a thumb, thereby realizing a more efficient operation. And
In the present invention, the sliding mechanism converts a horizontal displacement into a vertical displacement, that is, a potential energy of a keyboard portion, by rolling a spherical body on a curved surface of a substantially spherical depression or by inclining a substantially goro-shaped rolling element. However, since the restoring force to the neutral point is generated by the potential energy of the keyboard portion, the keyboard portion can be surely returned to the neutral point regardless of the weight of the keyboard portion, and the keyboard portion can be reliably returned to the neutral point. It eliminates the problem that the cursor moves against the operator's will because it does not return to the above, and it also has a very smooth operation feeling because the slide mechanism uses a sphere or a substantially go-stone rolling element. effective. Further, since the slide mechanism according to the present invention has a simple structure, it has a high degree of freedom in design, can be provided at low cost, and has an effect that no adjustment or maintenance is required.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view in which a side surface of a keyboard body of a computer input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is partially omitted.

[Fig. 2]

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the concept of a slide mechanism in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between a displacement amount and a restoring force of the slide mechanism in the present invention.

[Figure 5],

FIG. 6,

[Fig. 7]

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the slide mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a sensor unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an output characteristic diagram of a reflective photosensor.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an input device for a computer according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a part of a characteristic curve of the output of the reflective photosensor.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of displacement of the keyboard unit and the moving speed of the cursor in the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the keyboard body of the computer input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an operator's hand.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing a side surface of a computer input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention with a part thereof omitted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Keyboard Main Body 2 Base 3 Keyboard 4 Slide Mechanism 7 Sensor 8 Reflective Photo Sensor 9 Reflector 11 Signal Generator 12 Computer 30 Slide Base 31 Keyboard

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A base, a slide mechanism disposed on the base, and a keyboard portion supported on the base via the slide mechanism so as to be displaceable relative to the base. A sensor unit having a relative displacement detection unit that detects relative displacement between the base and the keyboard unit, and an operation unit that calculates a moving direction and a moving speed of the cursor based on an output signal from the sensor unit. In a computer input device comprising a signal generating unit including a signal generating unit for generating a signal for moving a cursor to a computer according to a result calculated by the arithmetic unit, surfaces of the base and the keyboard unit facing each other. Has a horizontal surface facing each other at least in a portion where the slide mechanism is located, and the keyboard portion is provided with a large number of data input keys. And is supported on the base via the slide mechanism so as to be relatively displaceable in the horizontal direction in parallel with the base, and the slide mechanism has the base and the keyboard part, respectively. A pair of substantially spherical recesses arranged on the horizontal surfaces facing each other, and sandwiched between the pair of substantially spherical recesses, at least smaller than the diameter of the pair of substantially spherical recesses, and An input device for a computer, comprising: a sphere having a diameter greater than twice the depth of the deepest portion of the substantially spherical depression. 2. The slide mechanism includes a substantially spherical recess provided on either one of the bases or the horizontal surfaces of the keyboard portion facing each other, and the substantially spherical recess. It is sandwiched between the base and the keyboard portion at the position where it is arranged, and is at least smaller than the diameter of the substantially spherical recess and greater than the depth at the deepest part of the substantially spherical recess. The input device for a computer according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a sphere having a diameter. 3. The input device for a computer according to claim 1, wherein the substantially spherical recess has a substantially elliptical outline. 4. The diameter of the sphere is 10 at the center of at least one of the substantially spherical recesses disposed on the horizontal surfaces facing each other of the base and the keyboard portion. The input device for a computer according to claim 1, wherein a hole having a diameter of 1/3 to 2/3 is provided. 5. The diameter of the sphere is 10 at the center of at least one of the substantially spherical recesses disposed on the mutually facing horizontal surfaces of the base and the keyboard portion. The input device for a computer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a recess having a diameter of 1/3 to 2/3. 6. The input device for a computer according to claim 1, wherein the sphere is made of a material having some flexibility. 7. The slide mechanism is composed of the mutually facing horizontal surfaces of the base portion and the keyboard portion, and a substantially goro-shaped rolling element sandwiched between the mutually facing horizontal surfaces. Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.
An input device for a computer according to. 8. The input device for a computer according to claim 7, wherein the substantially goro-shaped rolling element is made of a material having some flexibility. 9. The relative displacement detection means of the sensor section comprises a detection body arranged on either one of the base and the keyboard section and a detected body arranged on the other side, and the detection unit The body is two reflection type photosensors arranged at a certain angle to each other, and the detected body is a reflection plate corresponding to each of the two reflection type photosensors. The input device for a computer according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10. The input device for a computer according to claim 9, wherein the constant angle is 90 degrees. 11. An input key for a pointing device is arranged on the upper surface of the keyboard portion where the palm of the base of the thumb of the operator's hand is located when the operator places his or her hand at the home position. The input device for a computer according to any one of claims 1 to 10. 12. The keyboard unit comprises a slide base supported by the slide base so as to be relatively displaceable via the slide mechanism, and a single keyboard unit supported integrally on the slide base. The computer input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a computer.