EP0616298B1 - Positionseingabevorrichtung und Apparat zu seiner Verwendung - Google Patents

Positionseingabevorrichtung und Apparat zu seiner Verwendung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0616298B1
EP0616298B1 EP94102739A EP94102739A EP0616298B1 EP 0616298 B1 EP0616298 B1 EP 0616298B1 EP 94102739 A EP94102739 A EP 94102739A EP 94102739 A EP94102739 A EP 94102739A EP 0616298 B1 EP0616298 B1 EP 0616298B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pressure sensitive
input device
position input
sensitive elements
pressing plate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP94102739A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0616298A1 (de
Inventor
Hiroyasu Okada
Tadashi Yano
Hiroaki Nishiono
Naotaka Tama
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Panasonic Holdings Corp
Original Assignee
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd filed Critical Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Publication of EP0616298A1 publication Critical patent/EP0616298A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0616298B1 publication Critical patent/EP0616298B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
    • G05G9/00—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously
    • G05G9/02—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only
    • G05G9/04—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously
    • G05G9/047—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a position input device such as pointing device used in personal computer, word processor, other information processing apparatus, and home-use game appliances, and an input apparatus using the same.
  • FIG. 17 A prior art is described by reference to a pointing device using a strain gauge shown in Fig. 17 (a), (b), and (c).
  • strain gauges 24a, 24b in the X-axis direction, and 25a, 25b in the Y-axis direction are adhered.
  • the four strain gauges 24a, 24b, 25a, and 25b are connected as shown in Fig. 17 (c), that is, the strain gauges 24a, 24b in the X-axis direction being in series, and the strain gauges 25a, 25b in the Y-axis direction being in series.
  • the operation of the pointing device is described below.
  • the force applied in the stick 23 distorts the stick 23 in the X-axis and Y-axis, and the strain gauges 24a, 24b, 25a, and 25b measure voltages Vx, Vy of which resistance is changed by the distortion of the stick 23, and therefore the direction of the applied force is detected by the synthesis of the changing amounts of the X-axis and Y-axis, and the magnitude of the applied force, by the absolute value of tne changing amounts of the X-axis and Y-axis.
  • the invention provides a position input device comprising a lower film disposing four independent electrodes in four individual directions, an upper film disposing a common electrode confronting said independent electrodes, four, pressure sensitive elements, each pressure sensitive element having a variable resistance, and each pressure sensitive element being disposed between a respective said independent electrode and said common electrode, a pressing plate having an upper surface formed from a single member such that said upper surface forms a continuous, substantially flat surface, said pressing plate possessing protrusions at the positions for pressing said four pressure sensitive elements corresponding to said independent electrodes and an operational lever for manipulating said pressing plate, said operational lever being formed separately from said pressing plate, and being movable relative to said pressing plate, said operational lever having a lower surface formed from a single member such that said lower surface forms a continuous, substantially flat surface which engages said pressing plate, wherein the resistance of each of said four pressure sensitive elements is measured during a given measurement to detect all the directions to which the operating lever is manipulated.
  • a printed wiring board can be used instead of the lower film.
  • a spacer can be placed between the pressure sensitive elements so that the pressure sensitive elements may not be pressed except in operation time.
  • pressure sensitive rubber can be used as pressure sensitive elements.
  • pressure sensitive rubber can be used as pressure sensitive elements, and the individual pressure sensitive elements are constituted into one body with the connecting parts.
  • the invention also provides d position input device comprising an A/D converter connected to the independent electrodes, and an operating unit connecting a memory unit in which the procedure for processing the digital data obtained by the A/D converter is written, wherein the memory unit possesses a table for converting the digital data obtained by the A/D converter into an operating force of the operation lever or a moving speed corresponding to the operating force of the operation level.
  • the invention also relates to an input apparatus using a position input device possessing plural input keys, and an operation lever set at a same height of the input keys or slightly higher, adjacently to the input keys.
  • Fig. 1 is a drawing showing an embodiment of a position input device of the invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a drawing showing pressing plate which is an essential part of the position input device of the invention.
  • Fig. 3 (a) is a plan view of the position Input device of the invention, and Fig. 3 (b) is its cross sectional view.
  • Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an equivalent circuit of the position input device of the invention.
  • Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the relation between the pressure and resistance of the pressure sensitive rubber of the position input device of the invention.
  • Fig. 6 is a diagram explaining the table for converting the digital data obtained by the AID converter of the position input device of the invention into the manipulated force of the operation lever.
  • Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the changes of resistance in the thickness direction of the pressure sensitive rubber of the position input device of the invention by the force in the thickness direction, and changes of tne voltage for A/D conversion.
  • Fig. 8 is a diagram explaining the behavior of changes of the resistance in the thickness direction of the pressure sensitive rubber of the position input device of the invention by the force in the thickness direction.
  • Fig. 9 (a) is a diagram explaining the operation of the position input device of the invention, and Fig. 9 (b) is its side view.
  • Fig. 11 is a diagram of a position input device in a different embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the pressure sensitive rubber which is an essential part of the position input device in a further different embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 13 (a) is a diagram showing an input apparatus of the invention possessing plural keys using a position input device herein, and Fig. 13 (b) is its side view.
  • Fig. 14 is a diagram showing the relation between a film disposing common electrode and a film disposing independent electrodes which are essential parts of a position input device in another embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 15 is a diagram showing the relation between a film disposing common electrode and a film disposing independent electrodes which are essential parts of a position input device in another different eabodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 16 is a diagram showing the relation between a film disposing common electrode and a film disposing independent electrodes which are essential parts of a position input device in a further different embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 17 (a) is a diagram showing strain gauges which are essential parts of the pointing device of a conventional position input device
  • Fig. 17 (b) is its side view
  • Fig. 17 (c) is its equivalent circuit.
  • a lower film 9 having a hole 9a provided in the center As shown in Fig. 1, on the upper surface of a lower film 9 having a hole 9a provided in the center, four independent electrodes 1, 2, 3 and 4 disposed in four directions are formed, and from the four independent electrodes 1, 2, 3 and 4, individual lead wires 5, 6, 7 and 8 are drawn out respectively and wired on the lower film 9. Similarly, on an upper film 12 having a hole 12a provided in the center, common electrode 10 and common lead wire 11 corresponding to all of the four independent electrodes 1, 2, 3 and 4 formed on the lower film 9 are wired.
  • a pressing plate 14 is disposed, and in the lower part thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, four spherical protrusions 14a for pressing the pressure sensitive elements 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d, respectively, are disposed, together with two stopping parts 14b provided on the circumference of the opposite side of the plane having a shaft 14c formed in the center, and a protrusions 14a.
  • an operation lever 15 and an upper case 16 are disposed on the upper surface of the pressing plate 14, and the assembly constitution is as shown in Fig.
  • the shaft 14c provided in the center of the lower side of the pressing plate 14 is combined with the hole 12a in the central part of the upper film 12 for composing the contact parts and the hole 9a in the central part of the lower film 9, is further assembled with the hole 17a in the central part of the lower case 17 to formed into one body, and screws 18 is driven into screw holes 17b provided at four corners of the lower case 17 to fasten the upper case 16 by screwing.
  • the pressure sensitive elements 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d can be printed on the four independent electrodes 1, 2, 3 and 4 by using pressure sensitive conductive ink, or on the common electrodes 10.
  • the invention is capable of detecting the changes of the resistance of the individual pressure sensitive elements 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d, by measuring the resistance between the common lead wire 11 and the individual lead wire 5, 6, 7 or 8.
  • Fig. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing the changes of the resistance of the individual pressure sensitive element 13a, 13b, 13c or 13d in the thickness direction, in which the pressing force can be known by measuring the resistance of the pressure sensitive element 13a, 13b, 13c or 13d, for example, the pressing force is 200 g if the resistance of the pressure sensitive element 13a, 13b, 13c or 13d in the thickness direction is 10 k ⁇ , or the pressing force is 400 g if the resistance is 5.9 k ⁇ . That is, by measuring the resistance, the pressing force can be recognized.
  • the position input device of the invention incorporates an A/D converter, and also possesses a one-chip microcomputer in which the procedure for processing the digital data obtained by the A/D converter is written into a memory unit (ROM), and this microcomputer possesses, as shown in Fig. 6, a table for converting the digital data obtained by the A/D converter into the operating force received by the operation lever or the moving speed corresponding to this operating force.
  • ROM memory unit
  • Fig. 7 shows a characteristic diagram showing the changes of the resistance of the pressure sensitive element 13a, 13b, 13c or 13d in the thickness direction by the force in the thickness direction, and changes of the voltage for A/D conversion, and the A/D converted value as shown in Fig. 7 is obtained by A/D conversion.
  • the pressing force is known.
  • Fig. 11 shows a position input device having a spacer 21 placed between a lower film 9 and an upper film 12, together with pressure sensitive elements 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d, in which a certain clearance is set until the pressure sensitive elements 13d, 13b, 13c and 13d are actually pushed, so that errors due to slignt contact with the operation lever 15 may be avoided.
  • the pressure sensitive elements 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d are changed in resistance in the thickness direction by the pressing force, and by making use of the fact that the resistance in the plane direction is extremely large so that the change in its resistance can be ignored, the pressure sensitive element is composed of one piece by providing a connecting part 22, without separating into individual pressure sensitive elements, so that the number of steps in assembling is reduced to 1/4.
  • the lower film 9 may be replaced by a printed wiring board which is a rigid body.
  • Fig. 13 (a) and (b) relate to an input apparatus of the invention, in which the position input device of the invention is built in the input apparatus possessing plural input keys such as a full keyboard of a personal computer.
  • the height of the operation lever 15 is same as the height of the adjacent peripheral input keys 15a, or set slightly higher, and it can be very easily manipulated by the finger of the operation.
  • Figs. 14, 15 and 16 show pointing devices of other embodiments of the position input device of the invention, and specifically in Fig. 14, a protrusion 14d is provided on the circumference of the pressing plate 14, and by assembling the protrusion 14d by matching with a guide groove 19 of the main body case (not shown), the protrusion 14d provided on the pressing plate 14 and the pressure sensitive elements 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d can be positioned easily.
  • Figs. 15 and 16 has the same purpose as the embodiment shown in Fig. 14, and Fig. 15 shows an example of providing markings 20 on both main body case (not shown) and pressing plate 14, and Fig. 16 shows an example in which the outer shape of the pressing plate 14 is square, and the inside corners of the main body case (not shown) are assembled so that pressure sensitive elements 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d and the pressing plate 14 may be watched, as being guided by the pressing plate 14.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Position Input By Displaying (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)

Claims (7)

  1. Positionseingabevorrichtung mit einer unteren Schicht (9) mit vier unabhängigen Elektroden (1, 2, 3, 4) in vier unabhängigen Richtungen, einer oberen Schicht (12) mit einer gemeinsamer Elektrode (10), die den unabhängigen Elektroden gegenübersteht, vier druckempfindlichen Elementen (13a, 14b, 13c 13d), wobei jedes druckempfindliche Element einen variablen Widerstand aufweist und jedes druckempfindliche Element zwischen den unabhängigen Elektroden und der gemeinsamen Elektrode angeordnet ist, einer Druckplatte (14) mit einer aus einem einzigen Glied gebildeten oberen Oberfläche, so daß die obere Oberfläche eine kontinuierliche, im wesentlichen flache Oberfläche bildet, wobei die Druckplatte Vorsprünge (14a) an den Positionen zum Drücken der vier druckempfindlichen Elemente, die den unabhängigen Elektroden (1, 2, 3, 4) entsprechen, aufweist, und einem Betätigungshebel (15) zum Manipulieren der Druckplatte (14), wobei der Betätigungshebel separat von der Druckplatte gebildet und relativ zu der Druckplatte beweglich ist, und wobei der Betätigungshebel eine aus einem einzigen Glied gebildete untere Oberfläche aufweist, so daß die untere Oberfläche eine kontinuierliche, im wesentlichen flache Oberfläche bildet, die mit der Druckplatte in Verbindung steht,
       wobei der Widerstand jedes druckempfindlichen Elements während einer gegebenen Messung gemessen wird, um alle Richtungen festzustellen, in denen der Betätigungshebel (15) manipuliert wird.
  2. Positionseingabevorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei eine starre gedruckte Schaltungsplatte anstatt der unteren Schicht verwendet werden kann.
  3. Positionseingabevorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei ein Trennstück zwischen die druckempfindlichen Elemente angeordnet ist, damit die druckempfindlichen Elemente außer während der Betätigung nicht gedrückt werden können.
  4. Positionseingabevorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei druckempfindlicher Kautschuk für die druckempfindlichen Elemente verwendet wird.
  5. Positionseingabevorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei druckempfindlicher Kautschuk für die druckempfindlichen Elemente verwendet wird, und wobei die einzelnen druckempfindlichen Elemente mit Verbindungsteilen als ein Körper gebildet werden.
  6. Positionseingabevorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, die einen mit den unabhängigen Elektroden verbundenen A/D-Umsetzer und eine Betriebseinheit umfaßt, die mit einer Speichereinheit verbunden ist, in die die Prozedur für das Verarbeiten der durch den A/D-Umsetzer erhaltenen digitalen Daten geschrieben ist, wobei die Speichereinheit eine Tabelle für das Umwandeln der durch den A/D-Umsetzer erhaltenen digitalen Daten in eine Betätigungskraft des Betätigungshebels oder in eine der Betätigungskraft des Betätigungshebels entsprechende Bewegungsgeschwindigkeit aufweist.
  7. Eingabevorrichtung, die die Positionseingabevorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 verwendet, mehrere Eingabetasten und einen Betätigungshebel aufweist, der auf derselben Höhe wie die Eingabetasten oder etwas höher als diese und in Nachbarschaft zu den Eingabetasten plaziert ist.
EP94102739A 1993-02-25 1994-02-23 Positionseingabevorrichtung und Apparat zu seiner Verwendung Expired - Lifetime EP0616298B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP35973/93 1993-02-25
JP3597393 1993-02-25
JP5211226A JP3060793B2 (ja) 1993-02-25 1993-08-26 位置入力装置およびこれを用いた入力装置
JP211226/93 1993-08-26

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0616298A1 EP0616298A1 (de) 1994-09-21
EP0616298B1 true EP0616298B1 (de) 1998-04-29

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94102739A Expired - Lifetime EP0616298B1 (de) 1993-02-25 1994-02-23 Positionseingabevorrichtung und Apparat zu seiner Verwendung

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0616298B1 (de)
JP (1) JP3060793B2 (de)
CN (1) CN1094214C (de)
DE (1) DE69409860T2 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8674932B2 (en) 1996-07-05 2014-03-18 Anascape, Ltd. Image controller
US9081426B2 (en) 1992-03-05 2015-07-14 Anascape, Ltd. Image controller

Families Citing this family (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6285356B1 (en) 1999-02-19 2001-09-04 Brad A. Armstrong Displacement joystick with compression-sensitive sensors
US5659334A (en) * 1993-12-15 1997-08-19 Interlink Electronics, Inc. Force-sensing pointing device
DE19500033A1 (de) * 1995-01-02 1996-07-11 Rauscher Georg Ergonomische Standard- und Kompakttastaturen für Computer mit integrierter Mausfunktion
EP0829066B1 (de) * 1995-06-02 2001-03-14 Gerhard Wergen Analoges stellelement
US5903827A (en) * 1995-07-07 1999-05-11 Fujitsu Compound Semiconductor, Inc. Single balanced frequency downconverter for direct broadcast satellite transmissions and hybrid ring signal combiner
JP3608257B2 (ja) * 1995-07-10 2005-01-05 ブラザー工業株式会社 カーソルコントローラ付きキーボード
JPH10127946A (ja) * 1996-11-05 1998-05-19 Konami Co Ltd 操作レバー装置
TW476906B (en) * 1998-09-09 2002-02-21 Cts Corp A pointing stick having integral control circuitry
GB2351561B (en) * 1999-06-30 2003-10-22 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd Joystick controller
JP4958501B2 (ja) * 2006-08-30 2012-06-20 本田技研工業株式会社 力覚センサ用チップ及び外力伝達機構
JP4924350B2 (ja) * 2007-10-05 2012-04-25 トヨタ自動車株式会社 操舵装置、操舵装置を備えた搭乗型移動体、および移動体の操舵方法
KR100996664B1 (ko) 2009-01-13 2010-11-25 주식회사 휘닉스아이씨피 고정형 마우스
WO2010126266A2 (ko) * 2009-04-27 2010-11-04 Oh Eui Jin 도전성 고무부재를 이용한 데이터 입력장치
JP5824487B2 (ja) 2013-08-09 2015-11-25 レノボ・シンガポール・プライベート・リミテッド ポインティング・デバイス、キーボード・アセンブリおよび携帯式コンピュータ。
JP6095706B2 (ja) 2015-02-04 2017-03-15 レノボ・シンガポール・プライベート・リミテッド ポインティング・デバイス、キーボード・アセンブリおよび携帯式コンピュータ。
CN110882061B (zh) * 2019-11-18 2021-04-06 北京唯迈医疗设备有限公司 介入手术机器人四点式触觉力反馈装置

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US4313113A (en) * 1980-03-24 1982-01-26 Xerox Corporation Cursor control
JPS62274414A (ja) * 1986-05-23 1987-11-28 Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd 画像移動量の入力装置
WO1988009046A1 (en) * 1987-05-04 1988-11-17 Scientific Applications, Inc. Cursor positioning system for computer readout displays

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9081426B2 (en) 1992-03-05 2015-07-14 Anascape, Ltd. Image controller
US8674932B2 (en) 1996-07-05 2014-03-18 Anascape, Ltd. Image controller

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0616298A1 (de) 1994-09-21
JP3060793B2 (ja) 2000-07-10
CN1095836A (zh) 1994-11-30
DE69409860D1 (de) 1998-06-04
JPH06309095A (ja) 1994-11-04
CN1094214C (zh) 2002-11-13
DE69409860T2 (de) 1998-09-03

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