JP2000181623A - Mouse-shaped input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mouse-shaped input device which performs linear input control and curved input control needing elaborate and highly accurate control precisely and with high accuracy by simple operation switching. SOLUTION: When a cursor is roughly moved on a display screen, a track ball 2 is rolled on an operation plane, and cursor movement is roughly controlled by a moving signal outputted from an arithmetic circuit by a rolling signal outputted from an encoder based on a detection signal of roughly rolling in the directions of detected X and Y axes. When the cursor is moved minutely, a track ball 4 is rolled on the operation plane, and the cursor movement is controlled minutely and with high accuracy by a moving signal outputted from the arithmetic circuit by a rolling signal outputted from the encoder based on a detection signal of minutely rolling in the directions of detected X and Y axes. It is possible to cope with either the rough control or minute and highly accurate control of the cursor on the display screen by a simple operation which selects and uses inputting planes 3 and 5 of the mouse-shaped input device and selects the balls 2 and 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mouse-type input device which is connected to a computer and moves a cursor on a display screen in accordance with a rolling direction and a rolling amount of a trackball.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a personal computer or the like, a mouse-type input device which can be operated more easily than a keyboard is used to move a cursor on a display screen. This type of mouse-type input device is provided with a trackball that rolls on an operation surface on a desk at the bottom of an input device main body that can be operated with one hand. The cursor on the screen moves.

In this type of mouse-type input device, since the operation range of the input device main body on the operation surface of the operator and the operation speed are enlarged and displayed on the display screen, linear input is high. Although it can be performed with high accuracy, it has been difficult to perform a curved input with high accuracy by moving the input device body finely.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-1024 discloses an apparatus for performing a precise and curved input with high accuracy.
There has been disclosed a coordinate input device in which a rotation information input unit is provided on an input pen and a color or a line thickness can be changed in real time when drawing a graphic on a display. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 2-235128 discloses a wireless mouse-type input device that eliminates restrictions on the use environment and improves operability based on a plurality of pieces of position information from an input pen. .

[0005]

As described above, the conventional mouse-type input device mainly aims at linear input, and in order to perform high-precision and precise curved input, In order to perform highly accurate and precise curved input with a mouse-type input device,
Since an external device needs to be connected and the configuration is complicated, a problem arises particularly when applied to a portable computer.

The present invention has been made in view of the current state of operation of the mouse-type input device as described above, and has as its objects the purpose of linear input control and curvilinear control requiring precise and high-precision control. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mouse-type input device capable of performing accurate input control with high accuracy by simple operation switching.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a trackball rolling on an operation surface is attached to a bottom portion of a mouse body, and a rolling direction of the trackball is provided. A mouse-type input device for moving a cursor on a display screen in accordance with the amount of rolling and a first input surface provided on the bottom portion;
A first trackball that is mounted on the input surface of the first trackball and rolls on the operation surface in a first operation state in which the first input surface is opposed to the operation surface to perform normal-accuracy input processing A second input surface formed at the bottom with a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the first input surface; and a second input surface attached to the second input surface, wherein the second input surface corresponds to the operation surface. A second track ball that rolls on the operation surface and performs high-accuracy input processing in the opposing second operation state.

[0008] Similarly, in order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 2 is different from the invention according to claim 1 in that rolling of the second trackball is prohibited in the first operation state. In the second operation state, a rolling prohibiting means for prohibiting the rolling of the first trackball is provided.

Similarly, in order to achieve the above object, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the rolling inhibiting means is provided near the first trackball, and A first ball holder for holding the first trackball in a rotation prohibited state in the operation state of 2,
The first track ball is provided near the second track ball,
And a second ball holder for holding the second trackball in a rotation prohibited state in the above operation state.

[0010] Similarly, in order to achieve the above object, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the rolling prohibition means includes a first input surface or a second input surface. A sensor that outputs a detection signal when it detects that the inclination angle with respect to the operation surface exceeds a predetermined angle, and operates according to the detection signal to prevent rotation of the first trackball or the second trackball. And a stopper body that performs the operation.

Similarly, in order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 5 adjusts the inclination angle of the second input surface with respect to the first input surface with respect to the invention described in claim 1. An adjusting means is provided.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the present embodiment in a first operation state, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a second operation state, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a mouse-type input device 1 according to the present embodiment has a first input surface 3 on its bottom surface.
And a second input surface formed at a predetermined inclination angle on the first input surface 3.
The input surface 5 is provided, and the first input surface 3 includes:
A first trackball 2 is rotatably mounted, and a second trackball 4 is rotatably mounted on the second input surface 5.

In the first operation state, as shown in FIG. 1, the first input surface 3 is brought into close proximity to the operation surface on the desk, and the first trackball 2 is rolled on the operation surface. The cursor is moved on the display screen (not shown) in accordance with the rolling direction and the rolling amount. In the second operation state, as shown in FIG. A second trackball 4 on the operation surface in close proximity to the operation surface of
And the cursor is moved on a display screen (not shown) in accordance with the rolling direction and the rolling amount.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a control circuit 15 for controlling the entire operation is provided. The control circuit 15 has an execution switch 16 for executing an input operation.
And a cancel switch 17 for canceling the input operation. The control circuit 15 is connected to an interface circuit 24. The interface circuit 24 has a cursor movement on the display screen according to the present embodiment. Display 25 is connected.

On the other hand, the first trackball 2
A roller 22b for detecting the rolling of the first trackball 2 in the X-axis direction and a roller 22a for detecting the rolling of the first trackball 2 in the Y-axis direction are arranged in contact with each other.
Is connected to an encoder 20b that outputs a rolling signal of the first trackball 2 in the X-axis direction. An encoder 20a that outputs a rolling signal of the first trackball 2 in the Y-axis direction is connected to the roller 22a. Is connected.

The output terminal of the encoder 20b and the output terminal of the encoder 20a determine the rolling direction and the rolling amount of the trackball 2 based on the rolling signal of the encoder 20a and the rolling signal of the encoder 20b. It is connected to an operation circuit 18 for performing an operation.

Similarly, the second trackball 4 has a roller 23b for detecting the rolling of the second trackball 4 in the X-axis direction and a roller 23b for detecting the rolling of the second trackball 4 in the Y-axis direction. Roller 23a is disposed in contact with the roller 23a.
b, an encoder 21b that outputs a rolling signal of the second trackball 4 in the X-axis direction is connected to a roller 23a.
Is connected to an encoder 21a that outputs a rolling signal of the second trackball 4 in the Y-axis direction.

The output terminal of the encoder 21b and the output terminal of the encoder 21a determine the rolling direction and the rolling amount of the trackball 4 based on the rolling signal of the encoder 21a and the rolling signal of the encoder 21b. It is connected to an operation circuit 19 for performing an operation.

In the present embodiment, the second trackball 4 is formed so as to perform a rolling movement with higher precision than the first trackball 2, and correspondingly, the rollers 23a, 23b detects the rolling with higher precision than the rollers 22a and 22b, and the encoders 21a and 21b output the rolling signal with higher precision than the encoders 20a and 20b. It is configured to calculate the rolling direction and the rolling amount with high accuracy.

The operation of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described. According to the present embodiment, when the cursor moves on the screen of the display 25 by, for example, a linear movement and can be handled by a relatively coarse movement of the trackball, as shown in FIG. The input surface 3 is opposed to the operation surface on the desk, and the first trackball 2 is rolled on the operation surface to control the movement of the cursor on the screen of the display 25. In this case, the first trackball 2
Is detected by the roller 22b, a detection signal is output from the roller 22b and input to the encoder 20b, and based on the input detection signal, the first trackball is output from the encoder 20b. 2, and the rolling signal in the X-axis direction is output, and the rolling signal is input to the arithmetic circuit 18.

Similarly, the Y of the first trackball 2
The axial rolling is detected by the roller 22a,
a, a detection signal is output to the encoder 20a, and based on the input detection signal, the encoder 20a
From a, a rolling signal of the first trackball 2 in the Y-axis direction is output, and this rolling signal is input to the arithmetic circuit 18.

Therefore, in the arithmetic circuit 18, the encoder 20
b, based on the rolling signal of the first trackball 2 in the X-axis direction input from the encoder 20a and the rolling signal of the first trackball 2 in the Y-axis direction input from the encoder 20a. The rolling direction and the rolling amount are calculated, and a cursor movement signal is input from the control circuit 15 to the display 25 via the interface circuit 24 based on the obtained calculation value. Based on the movement of one trackball 2 on the operation surface, the trackball 2 is moved on the screen of the display 25.

On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, when the movement of the cursor on the screen of the display 25 includes, for example, a curved movement and cannot be performed unless the trackball is moved with high precision and fineness, FIG. As shown in
The second input surface 5 is opposed to the operation surface on the desk, and the second trackball 4 is rolled on the operation surface so that the display 2
5 controls the movement of the cursor on the screen. in this case,
The fine rolling of the second trackball 4 in the X-axis direction is detected by the roller 23b, and a fine detection signal is output from the roller 23b and input to the encoder 21b, based on the input fine detection signal. Then, a fine rolling signal in the X-axis direction of the second trackball 4 is output from the encoder 21 b, and the fine rolling signal is input to the arithmetic circuit 19.

Similarly, the Y of the second trackball 4
The dense rolling in the axial direction is detected by the roller 23a, and a fine detection signal is output from the roller 23a and input to the encoder 21a. Based on the input fine detection signal, the encoder 21a outputs 2 trackballs 4
Is output in the Y-axis direction, and this fine rolling signal is input to the arithmetic circuit 19.

Therefore, in the arithmetic circuit 19, the encoder 21
b, based on the fine rolling signal in the X-axis direction of the second trackball 4 input from the encoder 21a and the fine rolling signal in the Y-axis direction of the second trackball 4 input from the encoder 21a. The rolling direction and the amount of rolling of the second trackball 4 are precisely calculated, and a fine moving signal of a cursor is displayed on the display 25 from the control circuit 15 via the interface circuit 24 based on the obtained fine calculated value. Is input, and the cursor is moved by the precise movement signal based on the movement of the second trackball 4 on the operation surface.
It is moved on the screen of the display 25.

Thus, according to the present embodiment,
When the cursor is relatively coarsely moved on the screen of the display 25, the first trackball 2 is rolled on the operation surface, and X detected by the rollers 22a and 22b is moved.
Based on a relatively coarse detection signal of the rolling in the axis and Y axis directions,
The movement of the cursor on the screen of the display 25 is relatively coarsely controlled by the movement signal calculated by the arithmetic circuit 18 based on the rolling signals output from the encoders 20a and 20b, and the cursor is precisely and precisely moved. In this case, the second trackball 4 is rolled on the operation surface, and the encoders 21a, 21b are driven based on the precise detection signals of the rolling in the X-axis and Y-axis directions detected by the rollers 23a, 23b. The movement of the cursor on the screen of the display 25 is precisely and precisely controlled by the movement signal calculated by the calculation circuit 19 based on the rolling signal output from 21b.

For this purpose, according to the present embodiment, either the first input surface 3 or the second input surface 5 of the mouse-type input device is selectively used and the first trackball 2 and the second trackball 2 are used. By a simple operation of selecting the second trackball, it is possible to cope with both coarse control of the cursor on the display surface of the display 25 and high-precision and precise control.

[Second Embodiment] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the present embodiment.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a substantially tongue-shaped ball holder is rotatable around a shaft 6a near a first trackball 2 inside a mouse-type input device. 6 is provided, and a concave portion 26 having the same curvature as that of the first trackball 2 is formed on a surface of the ball holder 6 facing the first trackball 2. Similarly, the shaft 7 is located near the second trackball 4.
A substantially tongue-shaped ball holder 7 is provided so as to be rotatable about a, and a concave portion 16 having the same curvature as the second trackball 4 is provided on a surface of the ball holder 7 facing the second trackball 4. Is formed.

The other parts of the configuration of the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment already described, and therefore, will not be described repeatedly.

In this embodiment, at the time of the first input operation performed by rolling the first trackball 2 on the operation surface,
As shown in FIG. 4, the ball holder 6 and the first trackball 2 are in a non-contact state, and the first trackball 2
Roll freely on the operation surface. In this case, since the second input surface 5 is inclined with respect to the operation surface, the ball holder 7 rotates around the shaft 7a by gravity, and the concave portion 27 of the ball holder 7 4 is pressed and held, and rotation of the second trackball 4 due to vibration of the mouse-type input device is prohibited.

On the other hand, at the time of the second input operation performed by rolling the second trackball 4 on the operation surface, the ball holder 7 and the second trackball 4 are in a non-contact state, and The ball 4 rolls freely on the operation surface.
In this case, since the first input surface 3 is inclined with respect to the operation surface, the ball holder 6 moves the shaft 6 by gravity.
a around the center of the ball holder 6 so that the recess 15 of the ball holder 6
Of the first trackball 2 due to the vibration of the mouse-type input device.
Other operations of the present embodiment are the same as the operations of the first embodiment already described, and therefore, will not be described repeatedly.

As described above, according to this embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment already described,
Unused trackballs other than the trackball used for input operation by rolling on the operation surface are prohibited from rotating due to the vibration of the mouse input device during operation. It is possible to completely prevent a malfunction due to the rotation of.

Third Embodiment A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, an angle for detecting an inclination angle of the first input surface 3 with respect to the operation surface is provided near the first trackball 2 inside the mouse-type input device. The detection sensor 8 is disposed, and the angle detection sensor 8 is connected to a stopper 12 that is driven to prohibit the rotation of the first trackball 2. Similarly,
Inside the mouse-type input device, an angle detection sensor 9 that detects an inclination angle of the second input surface 5 with respect to the operation surface is disposed near the second trackball 4. The stopper 13 which is driven so as to prohibit the rotation of the track ball 4 is connected. The configuration of the other parts of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment already described, and therefore, will not be described repeatedly.

In the present embodiment, at the time of the first input operation performed by rolling the first trackball 2 on the operation surface,
The angle detection sensor 9 detects that the second input surface 5 is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the operation surface, and the stopper 13 is driven by the detection signal from the angle detection sensor 9 to drive the second input surface 5. Of the track ball 4 is prohibited.

On the other hand, at the time of the second input operation performed by rolling the second trackball 4 on the operation surface, the first input surface 3 is set in advance by the angle detection sensor 8 with respect to the operation surface. Is detected by the angle detection sensor 8, the stopper 12 is driven by the detection signal from the angle detection sensor 8, and the rotation of the first trackball 2 is prohibited. Other operations of the present embodiment are the same as the operations of the first embodiment already described, and therefore, will not be described repeatedly.

As described above, according to this embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment already described,
Unused trackballs other than the trackball used for input operation by rolling on the operation surface are prohibited from rotating due to the vibration of the mouse input device during operation. It is possible to completely prevent a malfunction due to the rotation of.

[Fourth Embodiment] A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the mouse-type input device comprises a first body 28a containing the first trackball 2 and a second body 28a containing the second trackball 4. And the first body 2
The 8a and the second body 28b are rotatable about the shaft 11, and the angle adjuster 10 is mounted between the first body 28a and the second body 28b.

The angle adjuster 10 includes a second body 20
b, and a nut 10a screwed forward and backward with the screw 10b. The angle between the first input surface 3 and the second input surface 5 is adjusted by the forward / backward adjustment of the nut 10a. It is configured to be adjusted. The configuration of the other parts of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment already described, and therefore, will not be described repeatedly.

In this embodiment, the input operation is started after the angle adjuster 10 previously sets the angle between the first input surface 3 and the second input surface 5 to an angle that is easy for the operator to use. Is done. Other operations of the present embodiment are the same as the operations of the first embodiment already described, and therefore, will not be described repeatedly.

As described above, according to this embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment already described,
The angle adjuster 10 can adjust and set the angle between the first input surface 3 and the second input surface 5 to an angle that is easy for the operator to operate, thereby improving the operability of the mouse-type input device. Become.

[0045]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the trackball that rolls on the operation surface is attached to the bottom of the mouse main body, and the trackball is displayed on the display screen according to the rolling direction and the rolling amount of the trackball. Is moved, but in the first operation state in which the first input surface provided on the bottom of the mouse body is opposed to the operation surface, the first trackball attached to the first input surface However, the normal-precision input process performed by rolling on the operation surface causes the cursor on the display screen to move at the normal accuracy, and a predetermined position is provided on the bottom of the mouse body with respect to the first input surface. In a second operation state in which the second input surface formed with the inclination angle is opposed to the operation surface, the second trackball attached to the second input surface rolls on the operation surface. High-precision input processing Since the cursor on the display screen is moved with high precision, the cursor can be easily moved on a straight line on the display screen with normal precision and on the curved section with fine and high precision. Switching can be performed by operation, and each can be executed accurately.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect obtained by the first aspect of the invention, the rolling of the second trackball is prohibited in the first operation state by the rolling inhibiting means. In the second operation state, since the rolling of the first trackball is prohibited, it is possible to prevent a malfunction that occurs when an unused trackball rolls due to vibration of the mouse body during operation. become.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect obtained by the first aspect of the present invention, in the first operation state, the second ball holder provided near the second trackball is provided. Holding the second trackball in a rotation prohibited state, and in the second operation state, the first ball holder provided near the first trackball moves the first trackball into the rotation prohibited state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a malfunction that occurs when an unused trackball rolls due to vibration of the mouse body during operation.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect obtained by the first aspect of the present invention, the inclination angle of the first input surface or the second input surface with respect to the operation surface is determined by the sensor. Is detected, a detection signal is output, and the stopper body operates according to the detection signal,
Since rotation of the first trackball or the second trackball is prevented, it is possible to prevent a malfunction that occurs when an unused trackball rolls due to vibration of the mouse body during operation. .

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect obtained by the first aspect of the present invention, the adjusting means
Since the inclination angle of the second input surface with respect to the first input surface is adjusted to an angle that is easy for the operator to operate, it is possible to improve operational efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a first embodiment of the present invention in a first operation state.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the first embodiment of the present invention in a second operation state.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a main part according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a main part according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 mouse-shaped input device 2 first trackball 3 first input surface 4 second trackball 5 second input surface 6 ball holder 6a shaft 7 ball holder 7a shaft 8 angle detection sensor 9 angle detection sensor 10 angle adjustment Container 10a Nut 10b Screw 12 Stopper 13 Stopper 15 Control circuit 16 Execution switch 17 Cancel switch 18 Arithmetic circuit 19 Arithmetic circuit 20a Encoder 20b Encoder 21a Encoder 21b Encoder 22a Roller 22b Roller 23a Roller 23b Roller 24 Interface circuit 25 Display recessed part 27 The first body 28b The second body

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A mouse on which a trackball rolling on an operation surface is attached to a bottom portion of a mouse main body, and a cursor on a display screen is moved in accordance with a rolling direction and a rolling amount of the trackball. A shape input device, wherein: a first input surface provided at the bottom portion; and a first operation state attached to the first input surface, wherein the first input surface is opposed to the operation surface. A first trackball that rolls on the operation surface and performs an input process with normal accuracy, a second input surface formed at the bottom with a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the first input surface, A second operation unit that is mounted on the second input surface and performs high-precision input processing by rolling on the operation surface in a second operation state in which the second input surface is opposed to the operation surface; Mouse-shaped input having a trackball Apparatus. 2. The mouse input device according to claim 1, wherein in the first operation state, rolling of the second trackball is prohibited, and in the second operation state, the first track ball is inhibited from rolling. A mouse-type input device, further comprising a rolling-inhibiting means for inhibiting rolling of a trackball. 3. The mouse-type input device according to claim 2, wherein the rolling prohibition means is provided near the first trackball, and the first trackball is held in the second operation state. A first ball holder that is held in a rotation prohibited state and a second ball that is provided near the second trackball and holds the second trackball in a rotation prohibited state in the first operation state. A mouse-type input device comprising a second ball holder. 4. The mouse-shaped input device according to claim 2, wherein the rolling prohibition unit is configured to control the first input surface or the second input surface.
A sensor that outputs a detection signal when detecting that the inclination angle of the input surface with respect to the operation surface exceeds a predetermined angle; and a sensor that operates in response to the detection signal, and that is used to drive the first trackball or the second trackball. A mouse-type input device, comprising: a stopper body for preventing rotation. 5. The mouse-type input device according to claim 1, further comprising an adjusting unit configured to adjust an inclination angle of the second input surface with respect to the first input surface. Shape input device.