JP2000200145A - Optical-mechanical mouse and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the mechanical movement of a structure component from three-dimensional to intra-plane movement, to prevent mechanical idle running and to provide a mouse with excellent reliability by making irradiation light from a light emitting means pass through a slit provided on an encoder plate and be received by a received light detection means. SOLUTION: On the two sides of the lower surface of a mouse board 3, the encoder plates 6 in an almost band plate shape provided with the slits 97 whose phases are different 90 degrees from each other are provided. The slit 97 irradiates or interrupts the irradiation light from a light source by the movement. The mouse board 3 is placed on a supporting base 108 on a mouse control circuit board 109 and the irradiation window 106 of an X axis direction and the irradiation window 106 of a Y axis direction are provided on the side face of the supporting base 108. Then, the irradiation light from a light emitter to be the light source is irradiated through the irradiation window 106 to the encoder plate 6 and the irradiation light finally reaches a received light detector through the slit 97 of the encoder plate 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointing device, such as an optical trackball, for moving a cursor on a screen of a computer or the like, and particularly to an optical-mechanical type device which is excellent in thinness, light weight and high reliability. It belongs to a mouse and its control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it is well known that an optical trackball integrally provided in a main body of a notebook personal computer is excellent as a pointing device, and a rotating ball is rotated mechanically in an arbitrary direction. To rotate the encoder wheel. A device that detects optical fluctuations of light irradiation and interruption due to the rotation as light pulses, converts coordinate information according to the moving direction and moving amount into electric signals, and moves a cursor on a computer screen. is there.

The configuration and operation of a conventional optical trackball will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 34 is a simplified structural view of a conventional optical trackball. The optical trackball integrally includes a right-click button cover 11 and a left-click button cover 12 on an upper housing cover 13 and stores a control circuit board 17 having components and control components therein. The control circuit board 17 includes a Y-axis shaft encoder (a shaft encoder refers to one in which a roller 20 and an encoder wheel 22 are integrally connected by a shaft 21 and is supported by a support 25) and an X-axis shaft encoder 14 (Y-axis And a light emitter 24 (generally made of a light emitting diode) for each of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction so as to sandwich the encoder wheel 22. A light receiving detector 23 (generally made of a phototransistor) is located, and a right click button 15 and a left click button 16 are provided on the front.

[0004] A ball 19 is provided on the upper housing cover 13.
A space 18 projecting from the top to rotate the
Lower housing cover 26 and upper housing cover 13
Is assembled to the personal computer body by the screw 27.

Further, how the rotational movement of the ball 19 is transmitted, converted into an electric signal, and controlled in the prior art will be described. FIG. 35 is a top view from the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. For the ball 19, 9
X-axis roller 35 and Y-axis roller 37 having different 0 degree angular phase
Two rollers are in contact (corresponding to roller 20 in FIG. 34). Taking the movement in the X-axis direction as an example, the contacting X-axis roller 35 is driven by the rotation accompanying the movement of the ball 19, and rotates the shaft 32 supported by the support 34 connected to the end. The shaft 32 is connected to an encoder wheel 31 having a slit 52 disposed between the light emitting device 33 and the light receiving detector 30, and the light reaching the light receiving detector 30 from the light emitting device 33 by the rotation of the encoder wheel 31. Irradiation,
And a change in the interruption is detected as an optical pulse train, coordinate information corresponding to the moving direction and the moving amount is converted into an electric signal, and the cursor is moved on the computer screen.

The moving system in the Y-axis direction is the same as that in the X-axis direction. The contacting Y-axis roller 37 is driven by the rotation accompanying the movement of the ball 19, and rotates the connecting shaft 21 supported by the support 25 before the rotation. Let it. The shaft 21 has a slit 52 provided between the light emitting device 24 and the light receiving detector 23.
Encoder wheels 22 (shown in FIG. 36) are evenly arranged
Is connected, detects the change of irradiation and interruption of light reaching the light receiving detector 23 from the light emitting device 24 by the rotation of the encoder wheel 22 as a light pulse train, and generates coordinate information according to the moving direction and the moving amount. It converts it into an electrical signal and moves the cursor on the computer screen. The pressing roller also has a spring structure component composed of a pressing spring 44 and a rotating roller 43.

The encoder wheel 22 of FIG. 36 is a side view of the encoder wheel 22 of FIG. The encoder wheel 22 has a circular shape, and the slits 52 are evenly arranged radially around a shaft 51 having the tip of the shaft 21 in FIG. 35 as an axis, and the light emitted from the light emitter 24 in FIG. Reaches the light receiving detector 23 through the slit 52. The interval, the area between the slit 52 and the slit 52, and
The shape is closely related to the cursor resolution, that is, the cursor movement distance per unit length during cursor movement.

[0008]

However, the prior art has the following problems. In order to demand higher operability, the following points need to be taken into consideration, which increases assembly and parts costs and lowers reliability.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 35, the relationship between the rotational movement of the ball 19 and the movement of the cursor must be accurately synchronized, so that the ball 19 is always in contact with the Y-axis roller 37 with a uniform force. Structural components for preventing idling loss in which only the ball 19 rotates and cannot drive the Y-axis roller 37 are required. The pressing roller is a pressing spring 4
4 and a rotating roller 43, which can maintain the positional relationship between the ball 19 and the Y-axis roller 37 properly, but allow the ball 19 to freely move in the ball gauge in the front and rear, right and left, and up and down directions. However, since the pressing roller is fixed and cannot completely follow the movement of the ball 19, it is impossible to completely prevent the idling loss of the ball 19.

As described above, in the current optical trackball, the cost of parts and assembly is increased due to complicated components, the reliability is reduced due to mechanical idling loss of the ball 19, and a notebook personal computer is used. However, there is a problem that there is a problem in integrating and using an apparatus having a limited height and space as represented by the above.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to prevent mechanical slip loss by making mechanical movement of structural components from three-dimensional to in-plane movement. Another object of the present invention is to provide an opto-mechanical mouse excellent in high reliability and a control method thereof.

[0012]

The gist of the present invention described in claim 1 is an opto-mechanical mouse used for moving a cursor on a screen of a personal computer, a workstation computer or the like. A substantially plate-shaped movable mouse board, a substantially plate-shaped mouse control circuit board disposed below the mouse board in parallel with the surface of the mouse board, and a substantially L-shaped lower surface of the mouse board. Two encoder plates are disposed, the encoder plate has a substantially band-like shape, and a slit through which irradiation light can pass is provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction, and the mouse control circuit board is provided. Has a substantially L-shape in plan view, one of a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit is provided at a corner and the other is provided at both ends, and the irradiation light from the light-emitting unit is provided on the encoder plate. Is The optical mechanical mouse is arranged so as to pass through the slit and to be received by the light receiving detection means. The gist of the present invention according to claim 2, wherein the mouse control circuit board includes a substantially columnar support base for supporting the mouse board on a top surface from below so as to be slidable in an in-plane direction, Are provided with four substantially columnar detection pins on the lower surface at the corners, both end portions, and the positions opposite to the corners of the encoder plate arranged in a substantially L-shape. The positions of the pins are located at substantially square corners in the plane in which they reside, and the lower ends of the four detection pins are in contact with the housing of the computer, avoiding interference with the mouse control circuit board, and face the mouse board. 2. The opto-mechanical mouse according to claim 1, wherein the mouse is slidably supported in an inward direction. The gist of the present invention according to claim 3 is that the light-emitting means is two light-emitting devices provided with a light-emitting diode provided inside the support base having a hollow inside, and the light-receiving detection means has two light-emitting diodes. Two light receiving detectors provided with phototransistors provided at both ends of the mouse control board for receiving the irradiation light emitted from the light emitter and passing through the slit;
On the side surface of the support base facing the two light emitters, the irradiation light emitted from the light emitter does not disperse, and an irradiation window for reaching the light receiving detector is provided. An opto-mechanical mouse according to claim 1 or 2. The gist of the present invention according to claim 4 is that the detection pin includes:
The lower surface of the mouse board and the support that supports the mouse board are formed of a conductive material, are electrically connected, the support is grounded, and a longitudinal side surface of the mouse control circuit board. The optical mechanical mouse according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a detection electrode for electrically detecting contact with the detection pin due to in-plane movement of the mouse board. Exist. The gist of the present invention described in claim 5 is that the mouse board is provided with a projection on the upper surface of the mouse board so that the mouse board can be moved by the abdomen of a finger or the like. 4. An opto-mechanical mouse according to any one of 4. The gist of the present invention according to claim 6 is that a substantially plate-shaped upper housing cover is provided on the mouse board, and an opening is provided in a movement range of the projection accompanying the in-plane movement of the mouse board. The upper housing cover is provided integrally with a pair of left and right click button covers, and on the lower surface of the click button cover, a pair of left and right click buttons and the click button cover when the click button is pressed via the click button cover. 6. The optical device according to claim 1, further comprising a click button control circuit board having a thin flexible cable connector for transmitting a click button signal to the mouse control circuit board via a flexible cable. Exist in mechanical mouse. The gist of the present invention is that the mouse control circuit board includes a mouse control circuit that controls the click button signal, and the detection electrode is pulled so that a high-level signal is input to the detection electrode. 7. The opto-mechanical mouse according to claim 1, wherein the mouse is up-processed and electrically connected to the mouse control circuit. The gist of the present invention according to claim 8 is that the mouse board has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, includes two encoder plates on a lower surface along side surfaces adjacent to each other, and the mouse board slides in the surface. The movable range is within a substantially rectangular range in which four detection pins provided at substantially square corners on the lower surface of the mouse board and the detection electrodes do not interfere with each other.
The opto-mechanical mouse according to any one of the above. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer including the optomechanical mouse according to any one of the first to eighth aspects. The gist of the present invention described in claim 10 is:
An opto-mechanical mouse control method used for moving a cursor on a screen of a personal computer, a workstation computer, or the like, wherein the cursor is moved upward (down, right, left) on a screen of a computer, etc. The inboard movement of the mouse board in the forward direction (front, right, left direction) of the operator, and irradiation light from two light emitters provided on the mouse control circuit board is provided on the mouse board. The two substantially band-shaped encoder plates are irradiated, and the slit provided in the encoder plate is moved by the movement of the encoder plate accompanying the movement of the mouse board, and the irradiation light passes through the slit. And an optical pulse train that repeats the interruption by the encoder plate.
The present invention resides in a method for controlling an opto-mechanical mouse, wherein two light receiving detectors detect the light pulse train. Claim 1
The gist of the present invention described in 1 is that, as the mouse board moves, a detection pin provided on the mouse board is connected to a detection electrode provided on a side surface of the mouse control circuit board fixed to a computer housing. The mouse control circuit on the mouse control circuit board detects the contact between the detection pin and the detection electrode, and the movement of the cursor on the screen stops. A method for controlling an optical mechanical mouse according to claim 10. The gist of the present invention described in claim 12 is:
The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the detection electrode and the detection pin come into contact again with the cursor stopped, and the cursor can be moved. Exists. The gist of the present invention according to claim 13, is that the detection pin, the lower surface of the mouse board, and the supporter supporting the mouse board from below are electrically connected to each other. When the base is grounded to ground and a high-level signal is input to the mouse control circuit by pulling up the mouse control circuit, and the detection pin is separated from the detection electrode, the mouse control circuit The input of the high level signal is continued, and when the detection pin comes into contact with the detection electrode, the support base is grounded to the ground, so a low level signal is input to the mouse control circuit, The mouse control circuit determines whether the detection pin is in contact with or released from the detection electrode according to an input change between the high level signal and the low level signal. A method for controlling an opto-mechanical mouse according to any one of claims 10 to 12. The gist of the present invention according to claim 14 is that the cursor is moved upward (downward, rightward, leftward) by moving the mouse board in the forward direction (forward, rightward, leftward).
(Right, left direction), the detection pin contacts the detection electrode provided on the side surface of the mouse control circuit board,
By this contact, the input signal to the detection electrode changes from the high level signal to the low level signal, and the mouse control circuit which has received the low level signal transmits a signal for stopping the movement of the cursor to the computer. The computer performs a process of stopping the movement of the cursor, the operator moves the mouse board in a forward direction (forward, left, right), and the detection pin contacts the detection electrode again. The input signal to the detection electrode changes from the high level signal to the low level signal,
The mouse control circuit receiving the low level signal,
14. The computer according to claim 10, wherein a signal for performing the movement of the cursor is transmitted to the computer, and the computer performs a process of restarting the movement of the cursor, and the cursor becomes operable. The present invention resides in a control method of an opto-mechanical mouse. The gist of the present invention described in claim 15 resides in a storage medium in which a program capable of executing the method of controlling an opto-mechanical mouse according to any of claims 10 to 14 is recorded.

In the present invention, "approximately L
The mouse control circuit board having a “character shape” includes a shape having a “substantially L shape”. Further, in the present invention, the encoder plates arranged in a “substantially L-shape” include an arrangement in a shape in which the ends are not joined to each other.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the opto-mechanical mouse according to the present embodiment includes a light receiving detector 1 for detecting a light pulse train, a mouse board 3, and a light emitting device 4 serving as a light source.
And an encoder plate 6 with slits.
The irradiation light 2 and the moving direction 5 of the mouse board 3 are indicated by arrows.

Irradiation light 2 is emitted from a light emitting device 4 serving as a light source to a light receiving detector 1 through an encoder plate 6 having a slit provided on a mouse board 3. At this time, the coordinate information corresponding to the moving direction 5 and the moving amount, which are formed by moving the mouse board 3 in the moving direction 5, ie, irradiation, blocking, irradiation, blocking,. Move the cursor on the computer screen.

As shown in FIG. 2, the opto-mechanical mouse is intended for a personal computer 62, especially a notebook personal computer 62 having a mouse integrated with the computer main body. The mouse board 3 is arranged in front of the keyboard 66 of the personal computer 62, and the click buttons are one left click button 64 on the left side of the mouse board 3 and one right click button 65 on the right side of the left click button 64, respectively. Prepare. As an example of a more specific usage form, the upper surface of the mouse board 3 is operated with the thumb 68 or the like, and the upper surface and the entire side surface are prevented from slipping with rubber or the like in order to make close contact with the abdomen of the thumb 68. It has a projection 67 integrated with the mouse board 3 that has been processed. Cursor 60 on computer screen 61
Is moved by moving the above-mentioned projection 67 in an arbitrary direction with the thumb 68 or the like.

As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 3, the surface of the optical mechanical mouse is covered with a substantially plate-shaped upper housing cover 79, and the upper housing cover 79 and the mouse board 3 are covered.
The upper housing cover 79 has an opening 78 at the center thereof so that the protrusion 67 of the mouse board 3 can move freely. A left-click button cover 75 is provided at the lower left of the opening 78 and a right-click button cover 76 is provided at the lower right of the opening 78. The left and right ends of the upper housing cover 79 are attached to the main body of the personal computer 62. It has a guide 74 and is fixed by screws 77. A click button control circuit board 85 is integrally provided on the back side of the upper housing cover 79 and is fixed by screws 82. On the click button control circuit board 85, a thin and lightweight left click button 64, a right click button 65, and a thin flexible cable connector 83 are mounted. Left click button 64 and right click button 6
5 is located just below the upper left-click button cover 75 and the right-click button cover 76 that are depressed when clicking, and the force at the time of depressing is transmitted to the left-click button 64 and the right-click button 65 without waste. Mount at the position where The button signal when the click button is pressed is connected to the mouse control circuit board 109 via the flexible cable 84 connected by the thin flexible cable connector 83.

As an assembly configuration, the mouse board 3 is located between the upper housing cover 79 and the mouse control circuit board 109, and is assembled in the main body of the personal computer 62. The outer shape of the mouse board 3 is a substantially plate-like shape having a substantially square shape in a plan view, and the upper surface is formed integrally with the mouse board 3 to be in close contact with a finger. 5mm in diameter and 3m in height
It has a protrusion 67 of about m. The cursor is moved on the computer screen by moving the projection 67 in an arbitrary direction with a thumb or the like.

The forward direction lines 92 around the projecting portion 67 on the upper surface of the mouse board 3 at 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock, and 12 o'clock are used as marks indicating the moving direction of the mouse board 3. Improves operability during use. The two sides of the lower surface of the mouse board 3 are provided with a substantially strip-shaped encoder plate 6 having a phase difference of 90 degrees and a slit 97.
The slit 97 is for irradiating or blocking the irradiation light from the light source by its movement. The length and area of the slit 97 and the interval between the slits 97 are closely related to the cursor resolution, and are strictly defined. Must.

The mouse control circuit board 109 has a substantially columnar support base 108 for supporting the mouse board 3 from below under the top surface so as to be slidable in the in-plane direction. The detection pins 93 are connected to the corners and both ends of the encoder plate 6 arranged in a substantially L-shape,
Of these detection pins 93 in preparation for the corners of the
Are located at substantially square corners in the plane in which they are located, and the lower ends of the four detection pins 93 are connected to the personal computer 62 to avoid interference with the mouse control circuit board 109.
The mouse board 3 is supported so as to be slidable in the in-plane direction. Also, these detection pins 93 and detection electrodes 120 provided on the side surface of the mouse control circuit board 109 are provided.
Are mutually related to the in-plane movement range of the mouse board 3.

The mouse control circuit board 109 has a substantially strip shape and is substantially L-shaped in plan view. The mouse control circuit board 109 has an X-axis direction for receiving and detecting light. A light emitter 105 (corresponding to the light emitter 4 in FIG. 1 and generally composed of a light emitting diode) and an X-axis direction light receiving detector 10
4 (corresponding to the light receiving detector 1 in FIG. 1 and generally formed of a phototransistor), a Y-axis direction light emitting device 102 (generally formed of a light emitting diode), and a Y axis direction light receiving detector 101 (general) Typically consists of a phototransistor)
A mouse control circuit 107 including a circuit for converting an optical pulse train into a digital signal from light reception detection of the light and a circuit for controlling a click button signal; a support base 108 for supporting the mouse board 3; A thin flexible cable connector 83 for connecting a flexible cable 84 via a signal from the click button control circuit board 85 and a thin cable for connecting a cable 112 via a signal from a connector 113 of the main body of the personal computer 62. The connector 111 is mounted.

The support base 108 is substantially columnar and has a hollow inside, and an X-axis direction light emitter 105 and a Y-axis direction light emitter 102 are mounted inside the support base 108. An irradiation window 106 for irradiating irradiation light for the axial direction to the X-axis direction light receiving detector 104 and an irradiation window 106 for irradiating irradiation light for the Y-axis direction to the Y-axis direction light receiving detector 101 are provided. The mouse control circuit board 109 is fixed to the main body of the personal computer 62 by screws 116.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the support table 108 in FIG. 3, and shows a Y-axis direction light emitter 102, an X-axis direction light emitter 105,
Irradiation window 106, mouse control circuit 107, and support 108
Is shown.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a mouse control circuit board 10 as an embodiment for reducing the height and avoiding interference between parts.
FIG. 9 is a top view showing an area where components cannot be mounted and arranged on 9. FIG. 5 shows the surface of the mouse control circuit board 109, that is, the surface on which the mouse board 3 of FIG. 3 is assembled on the upper side.
A hatched portion 151 between the support 108 and the Y-axis direction light receiving detector 101 is between the X-axis direction light emitting device 105 and the X-axis direction light receiving detector 104 and between the Y-axis direction light emitting device 102 and the Y-axis direction light receiving detector 101. In order to satisfactorily irradiate this light and avoid interference with the encoder board 6 of the mouse board 3, the area is set as an area where components cannot be arranged. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the control IC, electric components, etc. for configuring the mouse control circuit 107, the thin flexible cable connector 83, and the thin cable connector 111 are arranged at positions other than the hatched portions. FIG. 6 shows the lower surface of the mouse control circuit board 109, that is, the surface that can be assembled with the main body of the personal computer 62. The entire surface indicated by the hatched portion 170 is an area where components cannot be mounted or arranged.

Next, as an embodiment of the present invention, an example of the movement of the cursor 60 on the computer screen 61 by moving the mouse board 3 will be described in detail with reference to a specific example. FIGS. 10 to 18 and FIGS. 19 to 27 show the mouse board 3, the Y-axis direction light receiving detector 101, the Y axis direction light emitting device 102, the X axis direction light receiving detector 104, and the X axis direction light emitting device 105 in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a top view showing the relationship with the above.

FIG. 28 is a three-view drawing of the mouse board 3. FIG. 29 is a detailed view of the encoder plate 6. FIG. 30 shows the mouse board 3 and the mouse control circuit board 10 in the embodiment configuration.
9 is a side view showing the positional relationship of FIG. FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the detection pin 93 and the detection electrode 120. FIG. 32 shows the detection electrode 12 on the mouse control circuit board 109.
It is a top view which shows the position of 0. FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the control of stopping and moving the cursor.

Referring to FIG. The mouse board 3 is shown in FIG.
Is provided on the top surface of the support table 108, and two protrusions 67 are provided on the upper surface, and two encoder plates 6 are provided on the lower surface, in which several tens of slits 97 are arranged. 1
08 to reduce friction and smooth movement
A highly durable and uniform conductive low friction material 303 is used.

The upper surface of the mouse board 3 is provided with an X-axis positive direction line 306 indicating the X-axis direction and a Y-axis positive direction line 305 indicating the Y-axis direction for the purpose of improving operability. Has a detection pin 93. Referring to FIG. FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the encoder plate 6, in which slits 97 are regularly arranged. Referring to FIG. Detection electrode 12
0 is conductive, and the mouse control circuit board 109 shown in FIG.
Prepared at four places on the side of

Referring to FIG. A detection pin 93, a lower surface of the mouse board 3, and a support 1 for supporting the mouse board 3;
Numeral 08 is formed of a conductive low friction material 303 and is connected to a circuit. When the support base 108 is grounded to the ground 407, the detection pin 93 also has the same potential as the ground. The detection electrode 120 provided on the mouse control circuit board 109 in FIG. 32 performs a pull-up 405 process and is connected to the mouse control circuit 107 by a circuit connection 404. When the detection pin 93 is not in contact with the detection electrode 120, a high-level signal is generated by the pull-up 405 processing.
07. On the other hand, the detection pin 93 is
When the mouse control circuit 10 is in contact with the mouse control circuit 10, the support base 108 is grounded to the ground 407.
7 is input. The mouse control circuit 107 is a detection electrode 1
A high-level or low-level signal input from 20 is identified, and control is performed with respect to the repeated movement of the mouse board 3 in the same direction, which will be described later.

Referring to FIG. The mouse board 3 is placed on a support base 108 on a mouse control circuit board 109, and an irradiation window in the X-axis direction and an irradiation window in the Y-axis direction (only one irradiation window 106 in FIG. Display,
The same applies to the other side.) The irradiation light 2 from the light emitting device 4 serving as a light source is irradiated to the encoder plate 6 through the irradiation window 106, and finally irradiated to the light receiving detector 1 through the slit 97 of the encoder plate 6. 2 arrives.

The irradiation window 106 of the support table 108 has a shape such as an illuminance, an irradiation angle and an irradiation range depending on the shape.
It is closely related to good irradiation conditions on the side, and the external dimensions require strict accuracy. Light emitting device 4 inside support base 108
Is disposed in the vicinity of the irradiation window 106 of the support base 108,
This is to make the irradiation light 2 reach the light receiving detector 1 without dispersing as much as possible.

The support base 108 is slightly higher than the encoder plate 6 of the mouse board 3, and there is a slight gap between the mouse control circuit board 109 having the detection electrodes 120 and the encoder plate 6. The mouse board 3 can move not only in front, back, left and right but also in a two-dimensional trajectory such as a circle. In addition, compared to the slide pad attached to a conventional notebook personal computer that draws a similar trajectory, the present invention has a projection 67 integrated with the moving mouse board 3, thereby realizing the cursor instruction on the screen with high accuracy. it can.
In the figure, the detection pin 93, the upper surface of the personal computer 62, and the detection electrode 120 are also shown.

An example of a process in which the irradiation light 2 reaching the light receiving detector 1 changes the pulse train by the slit 97 of the encoder plate 6 will be described with reference to FIGS.
An example of the movement in the Y-axis direction, that is, the vertical direction, will be described with reference to FIG.

The cursor movement in the downward direction 215 can be realized by moving the mouse board 3 in the downward direction 215 from FIG. 10 from the initial state of FIG.
By moving the mouse board 3, the slit 97 arranged on the encoder plate 6 in FIG. 10 moves, and the irradiation light 2 from the Y-axis direction light emitter 102 of the mouse control circuit board 109 is moved.
Is a light pulse train that repeats irradiation, blocking, irradiation, blocking,... In the Y-axis direction light receiving detector 101, and the Y-axis direction light receiving detector 101 recognizes this light pulse train. The optical pulse train is converted into digital data by the mouse control circuit 107 shown in FIG. 3 and subjected to data processing by the CPU of the personal computer 62. The data conversion processing method from the optical pulse train and the mouse control circuit 107 have already been described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. This is equivalent to the control logic circuit included in the Logitech N-9 bus mouse which is also described in US Pat. No. 149470 and has already been commercialized, and the detailed description of the control function in this specification is omitted.

Referring to FIGS. When the cursor is repeatedly moved downward 215, the mouse board 3 is moved downward 215 until the detection pins 93 are brought into contact with the detection electrodes 120 provided on the side surface of the mouse control circuit board 109.

As shown in a flow chart of FIG. 33 described later, the mouse control circuit 107 shown in FIG. 5, which has detected the contact, controls to stop the cursor operation.

Thereafter, the mouse board 3 is moved upward 222 as shown in FIG. 13, and the detection pin 93 is brought into contact with the detection electrode 120, whereby the mouse control circuit 107 shown in FIG. The cursor can be operated, and the mouse board 3 is moved in the downward direction 215 as in the normal movement as shown in FIG. 14, so that the irradiation light 2 from the Y-axis direction light emitter 102 receives the Y-axis direction light receiving detector 101.
Then, an optical pulse train that repeats irradiation, cutoff, irradiation, cutoff,... Is detected. The repeated downward movement of the cursor can be performed by repeating the order of FIGS. 12, 13, and 14.

The control of the cursor stop and the movement by the contact of the detection pin 93 with the detection electrode 120 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the mouse board 3 moves to the limit to which it cannot move any more, the detection pin 93 provided on the mouse board 3 is connected to the mouse control circuit 10 by the “contact between the detection electrode and the detection pin” 520.
7 detects the contact and “stops cursor movement” 52
Do one. "Detection electrode and detection pin re-contact" 52
In the case of “N” in 2, the cursor remains stopped, and in the case of “Y”, “execute cursor movement” 5
At 23, the cursor can be moved again.

The upward movement of the cursor can be realized by moving the mouse board 3 in the upward direction 216 in FIG. By moving the mouse board 3 in the upward direction 216 in FIG. 15 from the initial state in FIG. 10, the slit 97 arranged on the encoder plate 6 moves, and the Y-axis direction light emitter 102
Irradiation light 2 is irradiated by the Y-axis direction light receiving detector 101,
The light pulse train is a sequence of repetition of cutoff, irradiation, cutoff,..., And the light pulse train is recognized by the Y-axis direction light receiving detector 101.

Next, reference is made to FIGS. When repeatedly moving the cursor upward 216, the mouse board 3 is moved upward 216, and the detection pins 93 are attached to the detection electrodes 120 provided on the side surface of the mouse control circuit board 109.
Contact.

As described with reference to FIG. 31, the mouse control circuit 107 that has received a signal that changes from a high level to a low level input from the detection electrode 120 by contact with the detection pin 93 is connected to the main body of the personal computer 62. By transmitting a signal for stopping the cursor movement, the CPU of the personal computer 62 performs a process for stopping the cursor movement. In accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 33, the CPU continues to stop the cursor unless the operation of “the detection electrode 120 and the detection pin 93 re-contact” is performed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 17, the mouse board 3 of FIG. 10 is moved downward 227, and the detection pin 93 comes into contact with the detection electrode 120 again, that is, the high level input from the detection electrode 120 is reached. The mouse control circuit 107 that has received the signal that changes from the low level to the low level transmits a signal for performing the cursor movement to the CPU of the personal computer 62, so that the CPU performs the processing for performing the cursor movement, and the cursor operation becomes possible again. As shown in FIG. 18, by moving the mouse board 3 in the upward direction 216 as in the normal movement, the irradiation light 2 from the Y-axis direction
Then, an optical pulse train that repeats irradiation, cutoff, irradiation, cutoff,... Is detected. When repeatedly moving the cursor upward, it becomes possible by repeating the order of FIG. 16, FIG. 17, and FIG.

Next, an embodiment of the movement in the X-axis direction, that is, the left-right direction will be described with reference to FIGS. Left direction 23
The cursor is moved to the mouse board 3 from FIG.
It can be realized by moving to the left 234 of 0. FIG.
By moving the mouse board 3 in the leftward direction 234 shown in FIG. 20 from the initial state, the slit 97 arranged on the encoder plate 6 moves, and the irradiation light 2 from the X-axis direction light emitter 105 is received in the X-axis direction. The detector 104 forms an optical pulse train that repeats irradiation, blocking, irradiation, blocking,..., And the X-axis direction light receiving detector 104 recognizes this light pulse train.

Please refer to FIG. 21 to FIG. When the cursor is repeatedly moved in the left direction 234, the detection pins 9 are attached to the detection electrodes 120 provided on the side surface of the mouse control circuit board 109.
The mouse board 3 is moved to the left 234 until the contact 3 is brought into contact. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 33 described above, the mouse control circuit 107 that has detected the contact controls to stop the cursor operation. After that, as shown in FIG. 22, the mouse board 3 of FIG. 21 is moved rightward 238, and the detection pin 93 is brought into contact with the detection electrode 120, whereby the mouse control circuit 107 detects and the cursor operation becomes possible again. As shown in FIG. 23, by moving the mouse board 3 in the left direction 234 as in the normal movement, the irradiation light 2 from the X-axis direction light emitter 105 is irradiated, blocked, An optical pulse train that repeats irradiation, cutoff, ... is detected. Repeated movement of the cursor in the left direction 234 can be achieved by repeating the order of FIGS. 21, 22, and 23. Further, the rightward cursor movement can be realized by moving the mouse board 3 rightward in FIG. 19 to 238 in FIG. By moving the mouse board 3 to the right direction 238 from the initial state of FIG. 19, the slit 97 arranged on the encoder plate 6 moves, and X
The irradiation light 2 from the axial light emitter 105 becomes a light pulse train which repeats irradiation, cut-off, irradiation, cut-off,... In the X-axis light reception detector 104, and this light pulse train is recognized by the X-axis light reception detector 104. .

Next, reference will be made to FIGS. When repeatedly moving the cursor in the right direction 238, the mouse board 3 is moved until the detection pin 93 is brought into contact with the detection electrode 120.
Is moved rightward 238 to stop the cursor operation.
Then, as shown in FIG. 26, the mouse board 3 of FIG. 25 is moved to the left direction 234, and the detection pin 93 is brought into contact with the detection electrode 120. As shown in FIG. 27, by moving the mouse board 3 in the right direction 238 as in the normal movement, the irradiation light 2 from the X-axis direction light emitter 105 is irradiated, blocked, An optical pulse train that repeats irradiation, cutoff, ... is detected. When repeatedly moving the cursor to the right, FIGS.
It becomes possible by repeating the order of FIG.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 and FIG. 30, the structure and implementation of another purpose of the detection pin 93 provided on the lower surface of the mouse board 3 will be described by way of an example. FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the X-axis direction encoder plate 6 and the Y-axis direction encoder plate 6 provided on the lower surface of the mouse board 3 in a normal operation.
The arrangement of the detection pins 93 is at a position close to the angle between the encoder plate 6 in the X-axis direction and the encoder plate 6 in the Y-axis direction intersecting at an angle of 90 degrees. One between the slit 97 and the slit 97 of the encoder plate 6 in the Y-axis direction, one at a diagonal position thereof, X
A slit 9 near the other end of the axial encoder plate 6
7 and one near the slit 97 near the other end of the encoder plate 6 in the Y-axis direction. FIG. 8 shows the mouse board 3 of FIG.
If the detection pin 93 is not provided near the encoder plate 6, the encoder plate 6 reaches a position where the irradiation light 2 from the X-axis direction light emitter 105 cannot be blocked, and the X-axis direction light reception is detected. The detector 104 cannot detect it as an optical pulse train. Similarly, FIG. 9 shows a case where the mouse board 3 is moved upward 193 from the state shown in FIG. 7, and if the detection pin 93 is not provided near the encoder plate 6, the encoder plate 6 will The irradiation light 2 from the detector 102 reaches a position where the irradiation light 2 cannot be blocked, and the Y-axis direction light receiving detector 10
1 cannot be detected as an optical pulse train.

FIG. 30 is a side view showing the positional relationship between the mouse board 3 and the support base 108 in the embodiment, and the four detection pins 93 provided on the lower surface of the mouse board 3 are somewhat more than the mouse control circuit board 109. The mouse board 3 can be moved stably since it has reached the bottom and is in contact with the personal computer 62.

Further, by contacting the mouse control circuit board 109, the moving range of the encoder plate 6 can be limited, and the irradiation light 2 can be constantly irradiated on the encoder plate 6, and as a result,
An optical pulse train as irradiation, cutoff, irradiation, cutoff,... Can be created.

The opto-mechanical mouse according to the embodiment is configured as described above, and has the following effects. Since the number of moving parts can be reduced, in addition to cost reduction, manufacturing and assembling are much easier than in the prior art, so that both the yield and reliability are improved, and it is possible to cope with automatic assembly.

Note that, in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a pointing device suitable for applying the present invention.

The number, position, shape, and the like of the above-mentioned constituent members are not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be set to a number, position, shape, and the like suitable for implementing the present invention.

In each of the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0052]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained. The first effect is that the mechanical movement, which is inevitably generated at the time of transmission from the ball to the roller of the shaft encoder due to the movement of the ball, is eliminated by eliminating the ball and the mechanical movable portion such as the shaft encoder that rotates with the movement of the ball. It is possible to prevent undesired idling loss and to have high reliability.

The second effect is to eliminate a ball, a mechanically movable portion such as a shaft encoder that rotates with the movement of the ball, a column supporting the shaft encoder, and a pressing roller including a pressing spring and a rotating roller. Thereby, the number of parts can be reduced.

The third effect is to eliminate a ball, a mechanically movable portion such as a shaft encoder that rotates with the movement of the ball, a column supporting the shaft encoder, and a pressing roller including a pressing spring and a rotating roller. As a result, high-profile components can be eliminated from the components, and a low-profile and excellent space advantage can be obtained.

The fourth effect is that the cursor on the screen is directed in the same direction as the mouse board by the attached mouse board and the projection provided on the mouse board for the purpose of improving the comfortable operability with the fingers when moving. By moving, it is excellent in pointing instructions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a top view of an optical mechanical mouse according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a light emitter in the X-axis direction in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view showing a component mounting prohibited area on the mouse control circuit board of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing a component mounting prohibited area on the mouse control circuit board of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top view showing an example of a configuration of a detection pin provided on a lower surface of the mouse board in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a top view showing another example of the configuration of the detection pins provided on the lower surface of the mouse board in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a top view showing another example of the configuration of the detection pins provided on the lower surface of the mouse board in FIG. 1;

10 is a top view showing an example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the Y-axis direction in FIG. 1, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector.

11 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the Y-axis direction in FIG. 1, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector.

12 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the Y-axis direction in FIG. 1, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector.

FIG. 13 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the Y-axis direction in FIG. 1, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector.

14 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector of the mouse board that moves in the Y-axis direction in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the Y-axis direction in FIG. 1, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector.

16 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the Y-axis direction in FIG. 1 and the light emitting device and the light receiving detector.

FIG. 17 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the Y-axis direction in FIG. 1, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector.

18 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the Y-axis direction in FIG. 1, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector.

19 is a top view showing an example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the X-axis direction in FIG. 1, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector.

20 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the X-axis direction in FIG. 1, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector.

21 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector of the mouse board that moves in the X-axis direction in FIG.

22 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector of the mouse board that moves in the X-axis direction in FIG.

FIG. 23 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the X-axis direction in FIG. 1, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector.

24 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the X-axis direction in FIG. 1, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector.

25 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the X-axis direction in FIG. 1, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector.

26 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the X-axis direction in FIG. 1, the light emitter, and the light receiving detector.

FIG. 27 is a top view showing another example of the relationship between the encoder plate of the mouse board that moves in the X-axis direction in FIG. 1, the light emitting device, and the light receiving detector.

FIG. 28 is a three-view drawing showing details of the mouse board of FIG. 1;

FIG. 29 is a side view showing details of an encoder plate provided in the mouse board of FIG. 1;

FIG. 30 is a side view showing a positional relationship among the mouse board, the support, and the mouse control circuit board in FIG. 1;

FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram showing a connection between a detection pin and a detection electrode in FIG. 1;

FIG. 32 is a top view showing the positions of detection electrodes on the mouse control circuit board of FIG. 1;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing control of stopping and moving the cursor in FIG. 1;

FIG. 34 is an exploded view of the structure of an optical trackball showing an example of the prior art.

FIG. 35 is a top view from the direction of the arrow in FIG. 34;

36 is a side view showing a slit of the encoder wheel of FIG. 34.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 light receiving detector 2 irradiation light 3 mouse board 4 light emitting device 5 moving direction 6 encoder plate 11 right click button cover 12 left click button cover 13 upper housing cover 14 X axis shaft encoder 15 right click button 16 left click button 17 control circuit board Reference Signs List 18 space 19 ball 20 roller 21 shaft 22 encoder wheel 23 light receiving detector 24 light emitting device 25 support 26 lower housing cover 27 screw 30 light receiving detector 31 encoder wheel 32 shaft 33 light emitting device 34 support 35 X-axis roller 37 Y-axis roller 43 rotation Roller 44 Pressure spring 51 Shaft axis 52 Slit 60 Cursor 61 Computer screen 62 Personal computer 64 Left click button 65 Right click button 66 Keyboard 67 Projection 68 Finger 74 Guide 75 Left click button cover 76 Right click button cover 77 Screw 78 Opening 79 Upper housing cover 82 Screw 83 Thin flexible cable connector 84 Flexible cable 85 Click button control circuit board 92 Positive line 93 Detection pin 97 Slit 101 Y axis Direction light receiving detector 102 Y axis direction light emitting device 104 X axis direction light receiving detector 105 X axis direction light emitting device 106 Irradiation window 107 Mouse control circuit 108 Support stand 109 Mouse control circuit board 111 Thin cable connector 112 Cable 113 Connector 116 Screw 120 Detection Electrode 151 Shaded portion 170 Shaded portion 184 Left direction 193 Up direction 215 Down direction 216 Up direction 222 Up direction 227 Down direction 234 Left direction 238 Right direction 303 Conductive friction Processing material 305 Y-axis positive direction line 306 X-axis positive direction line 404 Circuit connection 405 Pull-up 407 Ground 520 'Contact between detection electrode and detection pin' 521 'Stop cursor movement' 522 'Detection electrode and detection 523 'Perform cursor movement'

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An optical mechanical mouse used for moving a cursor on a screen of a personal computer, a workstation computer, or the like, comprising: a substantially plate-shaped mouse board movable in an in-plane direction; A substantially plate-shaped mouse control circuit board disposed below and parallel to the surface of the mouse board; and two encoder plates disposed in a substantially L-shape on the lower surface of the mouse board. Has a substantially band-like shape, provided with slits through which irradiation light can pass at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. The mouse control circuit board has a substantially L shape in plan view, And one of the light receiving detection means is provided at the corner and the other at both ends, and the irradiation light from the light emitting means passes through the slit provided on the encoder plate to the light receiving detection means. An opto-mechanical mouse characterized by being arranged to receive light. 2. The mouse control circuit board includes a substantially columnar support base that supports the mouse board from below under a top surface so as to be slidable in an in-plane direction, and the mouse board has a substantially columnar lower surface. Four detection pins,
In preparation for corners of the encoder plate arranged in a substantially L-shape, both end portions, and positions diagonally opposite to the corners of the encoder plate, the positions of the four detection pins are substantially square in a plane where they are located. And the lower ends of the four detection pins are in contact with the housing of the computer, avoiding interference of the mouse control circuit board, and support the mouse board so as to be slidable in the in-plane direction. The opto-mechanical mouse according to claim 1, wherein 3. The light emitting means is two light emitting devices provided with a light emitting diode provided inside the support base having a hollow inside, and the light receiving detecting means is irradiated from the two light emitting devices. ,
It is two light receiving detectors provided with phototransistors provided at both ends of the mouse control board that receives the irradiation light passing through the slit, and a side surface of the support base facing the two light emitting devices, The opto-mechanical mouse according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an irradiation window for allowing the irradiation light emitted from the light emitter to reach the light receiving detector without being dispersed is provided. 4. The detection pin, the lower surface of the mouse board, and the support that supports the mouse board are formed of a conductive material, are electrically connected, and the support is grounded to ground. 4. A detection electrode for electrically detecting contact of the mouse control circuit board with the detection pin due to in-plane movement of the mouse board, the detection electrode being provided on a longitudinal side surface of the mouse control circuit board. An opto-mechanical mouse according to any of the above. 5. The mouse board according to claim 1, wherein the mouse board is provided with a projection on an upper surface of the mouse board so that the mouse board can be moved by a finger abdomen or the like. Opto-mechanical mouse. 6. A substantially plate-shaped upper housing cover which is arranged on the mouse board and has an opening provided in a range of movement of the projection accompanying in-plane movement of the mouse board. A pair of left and right click button covers are provided integrally. The lower surface of the click button cover has a pair of left and right click buttons and a flexible cable for transmitting the click button signal when the click button is pressed via the click button cover. 6. The optical mechanical mouse according to claim 1, further comprising a click button control circuit board having a thin flexible cable connector for sending the mouse signal to the mouse control circuit board via a mouse. 7. The mouse control circuit board includes a mouse control circuit that controls the click button signal. The detection electrode is subjected to a pull-up process so that a high-level signal is input to the detection electrode. 2. The mouse control circuit is electrically connected to the mouse control circuit.
7. The opto-mechanical mouse according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. The mouse board has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, includes two encoder plates on a lower surface along side surfaces adjacent to each other, and a range in which the mouse board can slide in the plane is as follows. 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein four detection pins provided at substantially square corners on the lower surface of the mouse board and the detection electrode are within a substantially rectangular range where they do not interfere with each other. 9. Opto-mechanical mouse. 9. A computer comprising the optomechanical mouse according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10. A method for controlling an opto-mechanical mouse used for moving a cursor on a screen of a personal computer, a workstation computer or the like, comprising: upward (down, right, left) directions on a screen of a computer or the like. The cursor is moved by moving the mouse board in the plane in the front direction (front, right, left) of the operator, and the irradiation light from the two light emitters provided on the mouse control circuit board is The two substantially strip-shaped encoder plates provided on the mouse board are respectively irradiated, and the slit provided on the encoder plate is moved by the movement of the encoder plate accompanying the movement of the mouse board, and the irradiation light is A light pulse train that repeats passage through the slit and interruption by the encoder plate, and that two light receiving detectors detect the light pulse train. Control method for an optical-mechanical mouse to. 11. A detection pin provided on the mouse board comes into contact with a detection electrode provided on a side surface of the mouse control circuit board fixed to a housing of a computer as the mouse board moves, The in-plane movement of the mouse board is limited, and the mouse control circuit on the mouse control circuit board detects the contact between the detection pin and the detection electrode, and the movement of the cursor on the screen stops. The method for controlling an opto-mechanical mouse according to claim 10. 12. The detection electrode and the detection pin re-contact with each other in a state where the movement of the cursor is stopped, so that the cursor can be moved.
Or the control method of the opto-mechanical mouse according to 11. 13. The detection pin, the lower surface of the mouse board, and the supporter supporting the mouseboard from below, which are formed of a conductive material, are electrically connected to each other, and the supporterer is grounded to ground. A high-level signal is input to the mouse control circuit by performing a pull-up process on the mouse control circuit. When the detection pin is separated from the detection electrode, the mouse control circuit outputs the high-level signal. When the detection pin comes into contact with the detection electrode, a low-level signal is input to the mouse control circuit because the support base is grounded to the ground, and the mouse control circuit 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein contact or opening between the detection pin and the detection electrode is determined according to an input change between a high level signal and the low level signal. 12. Control method for an optical-mechanical mouse according to any one of 2. 14. The cursor is moved upward (downward, right, left) by moving the mouse board in the forward direction (front, right, left), and is moved to a side of the mouse control circuit board. The detection pin comes into contact with the provided detection electrode, and the input signal to the detection electrode changes from the high level signal to the low level signal by the contact, and the mouse control circuit receives the low level signal. Transmits a signal to stop the movement of the cursor to the computer, the computer performs a process of stopping the movement of the cursor, and the operator moves the mouse board in a forward direction (forward, left, right). Moving, the detection pin comes into contact with the detection electrode again, and an input signal to the detection electrode changes from the high level signal to the low level signal; The mouse controller circuit which receives the level signal,
The signal for performing the movement of the cursor is transmitted to the computer, the computer performs a process of restarting the movement of the cursor, and the cursor becomes operable. Opto-mechanical mouse control method. 15. A storage medium storing a program capable of executing the opto-mechanical mouse control method according to claim 10. Description: