JP2000132327A - Pen type pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointing device which can reduce a device configuration and can be operated with one hand like a mouse. SOLUTION: This device is composed of a pen 10 and a tablet 12. The pen 10 is provided with a top end part 14 and a ball-shaped main body. The top end part 14 is provided with an electric bulb 16 as a light source, lens 18 for transmitting light to a tablet 12, an electrode 20 on the side of the electric bulb, power source 22 for supplying electricity to the electric bulb 16, main body side electrode 24 connected to the power source 22 for supplying electricity to the electric bulb 16 only at the time of contact with the electrode 20 on the side of the electric bulb and spring 26 to be extended/contracted by power applied from an operator to the pen point. The tablet is provided with a pen detector 30 for detecting the contact/non-contact of the tablet 12 and a change in the position of the pen 10 after the contact of pen 10 and tablet 12, photodetector 32 for detecting light emitted from the pen 10, and control circuit 34 for reporting information from the pen detector 30 and photodetector 32 to a computer system 28.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pen-type pointing device which can be operated with one hand like a mouse while minimizing the number of constituent devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional pen-type pointing device is described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 4-44040. The ballpoint pen-type mouse described in this publication has an outer case in the shape of a ballpoint pen, a ball provided at the tip of the outer case to recognize a position by rotating, a push button corresponding to a mouse button, and a ball. It comprises a rolling amount detector for detecting rolling, a spring for supporting the tip, a pen pressure detection switch for detecting pen pressure when the tip is pressed, and a pen pressure amount detection sensor. The ballpoint pen-type mouse has an external case and rotates a ball provided at the tip, thereby moving the position of the cursor on the computer device by the amount of the movement. Further, a click signal can be notified to the computer device by a button provided on the external case.

In general, the above-mentioned pen-type pointing device is realized by thinning the pen itself in consideration of the ease of holding in a hand and allocating a button provided on a main body part to any key of a keyboard for performing a click operation. are doing.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned ballpoint pen type mouse, the position of the cursor on the computer device is determined by the ball provided at the tip. However, the ball at the tip could not be operated correctly depending on the angle. Further, when the button function is provided in the main body, the main body becomes thick or the operation becomes difficult.

Further, in general, a pen-type pointing device cannot be provided with two button functions corresponding to a left button and a right button of a mouse due to its thin shape. It was necessary to add the button function to a keyboard or keyboard and use it in combination with a pen. Therefore, the operator needs to operate with both hands, and the pen-type operation is more complicated than that of a mouse that can be operated with one hand, and the usability is inferior to that of a mouse that is a general pointing device. There was a problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pen-type pointing device that can be operated with one hand without minimizing the number of constituent devices and without impairing the function and operability of a mouse.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of operating a tablet constituting a pen-type pointing device, which can designate a place on the display of a computer device where the user wants to click.

[0008]

A pen-type pointing device according to the present invention has a main body in the shape of a ball-point pen or a pencil, and the tip of the main body can be moved up and down. A pen having a tip portion, a pen detector for detecting contact with the pen, a photodetector for detecting light emitted from the tip portion, and a computer for transmitting signals from the pen detector and the photodetector. A tablet having a control circuit for notifying the device.

Further, the method of operating the tablet according to the present invention comprises:
The tip of the tablet in a pen-type pointing device including a pen whose tip is movable up and down, the tip of which emits light when pressed, and a tablet which detects light emitted by the pen and notifies the computer device when the pen comes in contact with the pen. An operating method, comprising: a) receiving information indicating the state of the pen; b) detecting and determining whether the pen is emitting light; c) detecting the light in step b. Notifying the computer device of the same signal as when a right-click is pressed and the position of the pen on the tablet and returning to step a); d) if no light is detected in step b, the pen and the tablet E) detecting and judging whether there is no contact, and e) pressing the left mouse button when contact is detected in step d. Notifying the computer device of a similar signal and the position of the pen on the tablet and returning to step b; and f) if no contact is detected in step d, the pen is separated from the tablet. It is characterized by including a step of notifying the computer apparatus and g) determining whether or not the processing is to be ended, and returning to step a if not, and ending the operation if the processing is completed.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an external view of a pen-type pointing device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view and an internal configuration diagram of the pen of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the tablet of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the pen-type pointing device of the present invention includes a pen 10 and a tablet 12. As further shown in FIG. 2, the pen 10 has a ball-point or pencil-shaped main body and a tip 1 having a function of a pointing device.
4 is provided. The tip portion 14 includes a light bulb 16 as a light source.
And a lens 18 for transmitting the light of the light bulb 16 to the tablet 12
A power supply 22 for supplying electricity to the bulb 16, a main body-side electrode 24 connected to the power supply 22 and supplying electricity from the power supply 22 to the bulb 16 only when it comes into contact with the bulb-side electrode 20. And a spring 26 which expands and contracts by a force applied to the pen tip by the operator. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the tablet 12 is connected to a computer device 28 to which a pointing device is connected. The tablet 12 is a pen 1 operated by an operator.
A pen detector 30 for detecting the presence or absence of contact between the tablet 10 and the pen 10 and a change in the position of the pen 10 after the pen 10 and the tablet 12 contact each other; and a photodetector 32 for detecting light emitted from the pen. And a control circuit 34 that controls information notified from the pen detector 30 and the light detector 32 and notifies the computer device 28 of the information. In addition, the tablet 12 corresponds to the display of the computer device 32, and works together with the pen 10 in the same manner as a mouse.

An operator holds the pen 10 with one hand and operates the pen 10 on the tablet 12 to use the pen 10 as a pointing device. The movement of the pen 10 by the operation of the operator notifies the computer device 32 of the position information of the pen 10 and information corresponding to pressing the left and right buttons of the mouse.

As shown in FIG. 2B, when the operator wants to notify the computer device of information corresponding to the depression of the left button of the mouse, the tip portion 14 is not pushed into the main body, and To operate the pen 10. As shown in FIG. 2C, when the operator wants to notify the computer device of information corresponding to pressing the right mouse button, the operator applies pressure to the tip 14 of the pen 10. At this time, the spring 26 contracts due to pressure, and the electrode 20 and the electrode 24 come into contact with each other, so that electricity is supplied from the power supply 22 to turn on the light bulb 16 and light is transmitted to the tablet 12 through the lens 18.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a contact state between a pen and a tablet detected by the pen detector of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, when the operator touches the pen 10 at a predetermined position on the tablet 12, the pen detector 30 shows the state of FIG. 5, whereby the control circuit determines that the contact between the pen 10 and the tablet 12 has been detected. Notify 34. Control circuit 34
Sends the pen 10 and the tablet 12 to the computer device 28.
Notify of contact with Further, the pen detector 30 includes the pen 1
As soon as 0 and the tablet 12 come into contact, the state shifts to the state shown in FIG. 5, the position of the pen 10 on the tablet is confirmed, and the control circuit 34 is notified. The control circuit 34 notifies the computer device 28 of the position of the pen 10 on the tablet 12,
The computer device 28 recognizes a signal corresponding to the depression of the left mouse button and the position of the pen 10. When the pen 10 is released from the tablet 12, the pen detector 30 shifts to the state shown in FIG. 5, and notifies the control circuit 34 that the pen 10 has been released. The control circuit 34 notifies the computer device 28 that the pen 10 has released the tablet 12, and the computer device 28 recognizes that the pen 10 has been released.

Further, when the pen 10 is in contact with the tablet 12 and the operator further presses down the pen 10 to turn on the light bulb 16, the light detector 32 detects that the light from the light bulb 16 has been detected. Notify to Control circuit 3
4 notifies the computer device 28 that the light has been detected. Further, the light detector 32 confirms the position of the pen 10 and notifies the control circuit 34 of the position. The control circuit 34 notifies the computer device 28 of the position of the pen 10, and the computer device 28 recognizes the signal of the right-click depression of the mouse and the position of the pen 10 by detecting light.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the control circuit of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the control circuit 34 receives information from the pen detector 30 and the light detector 32 (Step A1). The light detector 32 determines whether light from the pen 10 has been detected (Step A2). If light is detected as a result of the judgment,
A signal similar to a right mouse button click is notified to the computer device 28 (step A3), and the position of the pen is notified to the computer device 28 (step A4).
It returns to step A1. If no light is detected, it is determined whether the pen 10 and the tablet 12 are in contact (step A5). As a result of the determination, when the pen 10 and the tablet 12 are in contact with each other, a signal similar to the click of the left mouse button is notified to the computer device 28 (step A).
6) Further, the position of the pen is notified to the computer device 28 (step A7), and the process returns to step A2. When the pen 10 and the tablet 12 are not in contact with each other. The computer 28 is notified that the pen 10 and the tablet 12 are separated from each other (step A8), and it is determined whether or not the operation is completed (step A9). If the result of the determination is not end, the process returns to step A1, and if it is ended, the operation is ended.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The above-described embodiment is realized by incorporating the light source in the pen 10 and compressing the spring 26 by the pressure received from the pen 10 to turn on the light bulb 16. In this embodiment, the pen is provided with a button,
By providing a button detector that detects pressing of a button, an operation equivalent to a right click of a mouse is realized. That is, when the pen 10 comes into contact with the tablet 12, the computer device 28 recognizes the left click, and
The computer device 28 recognizes a right click by pressing a built-in button.

Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is realized by assigning a button provided on the pen 10 to any key of the keyboard of the computer device 28, in contrast to the other embodiments described above.

[0018]

According to the pen-type pointing device of the present invention, the operator uses the pen-type pointing device without using both hands because the function equivalent to the left and right buttons of the mouse is realized by operating the pen with one hand. Becomes possible. In addition, the present invention incorporates a light source in the pen and realizes a function corresponding to the left and right buttons of a mouse by a combination of pressure received from the pen and the presence or absence of light. It is something that can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a pen-type pointing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view and an internal configuration diagram of the pen of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the tablet of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a contact state between a pen and a tablet detected by the pen detector of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a control circuit of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 pen 12 tablet 14 tip part 16 light bulb 18 electrode 20 lens 22 power supply 24 electrode 26 spring 28 pen detector 30 light detector 32 computer device 34 control circuit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A pen having a ball-point pen or pencil-shaped body, a tip portion of which can move up and down, and emits light from the tip when the tip is pressed, and detects contact of the pen. A tablet having a pen detector, a light detector for detecting light emitted from the tip portion, and a control circuit for notifying a computer device of signals from the pen detector and the light detector. A pen-type pointing device, characterized in that: 2. A light source as a light source, a lens for transmitting light to the tablet, an electrode on a light bulb side, a power supply for supplying electricity to the light bulb, and a power supply for supplying electricity to the light bulb. The pen-type pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a main body-side electrode that supplies electricity to the electric bulb only when it comes into contact with the electrode; and a spring that expands and contracts by a force applied to the pen tip. 3. A pen having a body in the shape of a ballpoint pen or a pencil, a pen having a tip that is movable up and down and emits light from the tip when the tip is depressed, and detecting contact of the pen. A pen detector, a tablet having a light detector for detecting light emitted from the tip portion, and a control circuit for notifying a computer device of a signal from the pen detector and the light detector, When the pen is brought into contact with the tablet, a signal similar to a right click of a mouse and the position of the pen on the tablet are notified to the computer device, and when the pen is further pressed, light is emitted from the tip portion, and the tablet is Detecting the light emission, notifying the computer device of the same signal as a left mouse click and the position of the pen on the tablet, Computer apparatus pen pointing device and recognizes the right-click and left-click. 4. A main body in the shape of a ballpoint pen or a pencil, a pen provided with a button on the main body, a pen detector connected to the pen and detecting contact with the pen, and the button being depressed. And a tablet having a control circuit for transmitting signals from the pen detector and the button detector. 5. A tablet having a pen in the shape of a ball-point pen or a pencil, a pen detector connected to the pen and detecting contact of the pen, and a control circuit for transmitting a signal from the pen detector. A pen-type pointing device, comprising: a computer connected to the tablet and having a function of left-clicking a mouse on any key of a keyboard. 6. A pen type having a pen whose tip is movable up and down and whose tip emits light when pressed, and a tablet which detects when the pen contacts and when the pen emits light and notifies a computer device of the light. A method of operating a tablet in a pointing device, comprising: a) receiving information indicating a state of the pen; b) detecting and determining whether the pen is emitting light; Detecting the same signal as when the right mouse button is pressed and the position of the pen on the tablet to the computer device and returning to step a. D) If no light is detected in step b, E) detecting and determining whether the pen and the tablet are not in contact with each other; and e) detecting the contact in step d. Notifying the computer device of the same signal as pressing the left button and the position of the pen on the tablet and returning to step b. F) If no contact is detected in step d, the pen and the tablet Notifying the computer device that the user is away from the computer; g) determining whether or not the operation is to be terminated; if not, returning to step a; otherwise, terminating the operation;
A method of operating a tablet, comprising: