JP2001067168A - Keyboard with coordinate input function and coordinate input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the working efficiency of input operation by simultaneously executing key entry and coordinate input. SOLUTION: A ball 4 to be optionally rotated is arranged on the lower part of a keyboard in the thickness direction. The moving variable of the ball 4 in the rotational direction (X and Y directions) is detected to detect the moving variable of the keyboard, so that the moving variable of the keyboard can be inputted as coordinates. In addition, an auxiliary ball is formed and the Y' or X' direction of the auxiliary ball is detected to calculate the tilt angle of the keyboard, so that the tilt angle can be inputted together with the coordinates.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard with a coordinate input function and a coordinate input device used in general information processing apparatuses having an input device such as a personal computer, a word processor, and a portable terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, information devices have used a plurality of input devices such as a keyboard for key input, a mouse and a joystick capable of inputting X and Y coordinates. However, in recent years, CAD software has become three-dimensional, and various input methods such as a combined use of a keyboard and a mouse are required depending on application software. However, the operator cannot operate the keyboard and the mouse at the same time, and it is necessary to change and operate the input device, and the working efficiency has been significantly reduced.

For this reason, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-121115
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 10-125556 discloses an input device provided with a numeric keypad above a mouse. According to this input device, coordinate input by a mouse and numeric input by a numeric keypad can be performed simultaneously.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-314597 discloses an input device in which a coordinate movement amount recognition device having a rotating ball is provided above a key.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. Sho 63-5532 discloses an input device which can be used as a mouse operation board by inverting a keyboard.

[0006]

However, the input device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-121115 allows simultaneous input of coordinates using a mouse and input of numbers using a numeric keypad. Cannot be entered at the same time.

In the input device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-314597, the operation of the key portion and the operation of the coordinate movement amount recognizing device are independent, and it is necessary to move the hand. Operations cannot be performed simultaneously.

Further, in the input device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 63-5532, only one of a character key and a coordinate input or a numeric keypad and a coordinate input can be simultaneously performed. Input and input cannot be performed simultaneously.

As described above, with the conventional input device, it has not been possible to sufficiently improve the working efficiency by simultaneously performing the key input and the coordinate input.

Furthermore, a coordinate input device such as a mouse simply detects the coordinates in the X and Y directions, but cannot detect and input the inclination angle of the device itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such problems of the prior art, and a keyboard with a coordinate input function and an apparatus itself capable of simultaneously performing key input and coordinate input to improve work efficiency. It is an object of the present invention to provide a coordinate input device capable of detecting a tilt angle of a coordinate.

[0012]

A keyboard having a coordinate input function according to the present invention is provided with a freely rotatable sphere at a lower portion in a thickness direction of the keyboard, and the sphere rotates in the X direction orthogonal to each other. And the Y direction, the amount of movement in each direction is detected, and the amount of movement of the keyboard is detected from the detected amount of movement, thereby enabling coordinate input, thereby achieving the above object.

A keyboard with a coordinate input function according to the present invention comprises:
In addition to the spherical body, a freely rotatable auxiliary spherical body is provided below the keyboard in the thickness direction, and auxiliary coordinates Y ′ or X ′ detected from the movement amount of the auxiliary spherical body, and the movement of the spherical body By the coordinates X and Y detected from the quantity,
The tilt angle of the keyboard can be input together with the coordinate input.

The keyboard with a coordinate input function according to the present invention comprises:
A microswitch is provided on at least one of the spherical body and the auxiliary spherical body, and the microswitch can be operated by depressing a keyboard.

The keyboard with a coordinate input function according to the present invention comprises:
In order to correct the difference between the detection amount in the X direction and the detection amount in the Y direction generated when the keyboard is moved between the state before the tilt operation and the state after the tilt operation of the keyboard, the tilt angle is stored and the coordinates are stored. Correction can be made possible.

A keyboard with a coordinate input function according to the present invention comprises:
The diameter of the spherical body and the diameter of the auxiliary spherical body may be different.

In the coordinate input device of the present invention, a freely rotatable spherical body is provided at a lower portion in a thickness direction of the device. In a coordinate input device in which coordinates can be input by detecting a movement amount and detecting a movement amount of the device itself from the detected movement amount, an auxiliary spherical body that can freely rotate in addition to the spherical body is used. An auxiliary coordinate Y ′ or X ′, which is provided at the lower part in the thickness direction of the device and is detected from the movement amount of the auxiliary sphere, and the coordinates X and Y detected from the movement amount of the sphere, together with the coordinate input, the device It is possible to input its own tilt angle, thereby achieving the above object.

In the coordinate input device of the present invention, a microswitch is provided on at least one of the spherical body and the auxiliary spherical body, and the microswitch can be operated by depressing the device itself. .

The coordinate input device according to the present invention corrects the difference between the detection amounts in the X direction and the Y direction caused when the device is moved, between the state before the tilt operation and the state after the tilt operation. In order to do so, it is possible to make the coordinate correction possible by storing the inclination angle.

The coordinate input device according to the present invention may be configured such that the spherical body and the auxiliary spherical body have different diameters.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described.

In the present invention, a freely rotatable spherical body is provided at the lower part in the thickness direction of the keyboard, and as shown in Embodiment 1 described later, the rotating direction of the spherical body (X direction and Y direction). The amount of movement of the keyboard can be detected by detecting the amount of movement of the keyboard. Therefore, by moving the keyboard while performing key input to the keyboard, it is possible to perform coordinate input simultaneously with key input.

Even if a freely rotatable spherical body is provided, only the coordinates in the X and Y directions are detected. Therefore, it is preferable to add a freely rotatable auxiliary spherical body below the keyboard or the coordinate input device in the thickness direction. Thereby, as shown in a second embodiment described later, the inclination angle of the device itself can be calculated from the coordinates X, Y, Y ′ or X, Y, X ′ calculated from the movement amount of the two spherical bodies, It is possible to input the tilt angle of the device together with the coordinates.

Further, a switch is required in order to perform a click operation and a drag operation which can be performed with a normal mouse. However, if this switch is provided separately from the keyboard with the coordinate input function, the work efficiency of the operation of simultaneously performing the key input and the coordinate input will be impaired. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a microswitch on at least one of the spherical body and the auxiliary spherical body. As a result, as shown in a third embodiment described later, the micro switch can be operated by depressing the entire keyboard cabinet, and it is possible to perform a click operation or a drag operation while performing key input to the keyboard.

In the present invention, the coordinate movement with the coordinate input device kept horizontal and the coordinate movement with the coordinate input device tilted,
The detected coordinates indicate different values, which forces the operator to perform an unnatural operation. Therefore, it is preferable to store the current tilt angle and correct the coordinate value. As a result, as shown in a later-described embodiment 4, the coordinate movement value when the coordinate input device is kept horizontal and the coordinate movement value when tilted are set to the same value, and the operator can obtain a natural operation feeling. It becomes possible.

By the way, in the coordinate input device provided with the spherical body and the auxiliary spherical body, no problem occurs when the size of the apparatus itself is sufficiently large and two spherical bodies having the same size can be stored. However, in order to achieve a relatively small size like a conventional coordinate input device using a mouse,
In some cases, two spherical bodies of the same size cannot be stored in the device. Therefore, as shown in a fifth embodiment described later, if the spherical body and the auxiliary spherical body having different diameters are used, the size of the apparatus itself can be reduced.

[0027]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a top view showing the configuration of a keyboard with a coordinate input function according to this embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an internal configuration thereof.

This keyboard 100 with a coordinate input function
Has a main key 1, a numeric keypad 2 and a function key 3 on an upper surface, and a freely rotatable ball 4 is provided at a lower part in a thickness direction of the keyboard.

The X-coordinate component of the rotation of the ball 4 is transmitted to the X-coordinate detection roller 7 which is in contact with the ball 4 and is transmitted from the X-coordinate detection rotary encoder 8 connected to the same axis as the X-coordinate detection amount roller 7. The movement amount of the coordinates is detected.
The Y-coordinate component of the rotation of the ball 4 is transmitted to the Y-coordinate detection roller 5 in contact with the ball 4, and the Y-coordinate of the Y-coordinate is transmitted from the Y-coordinate detection rotary encoder 6 connected to the same axis as the Y-coordinate detection roller 5. The movement amount is detected.

The movement amount can be detected, for example, as follows.

When the radius of the ball 4 is r [m] and the ball 4 is moved by t [m] in the X direction, the ball rotation speed v is as follows: v = t / (2πr) (1) At this time, the radius of the X coordinate detecting roller 7 is set to s
[M], the rotation number u of the X coordinate detection roller 7 is as follows: u = [(2πr) / (2πs)] × v = [(2πr) / (2πs)] × [t / (2πr)] = t / (2πs) (Equation 2) And a rotary encoder 8 for X coordinate detection.
Assuming that n pulses are output every time the motor rotates once, the total output pulse N of the rotary encoder 8 for X coordinate detection is as follows: N = nu · nt = nt · (2πs) (Equation 3) Here, n and s are constants that do not change, and the total output pulse N of the rotary encoder 8 for X coordinate detection becomes a linear function of the movement amount t [m] in the X direction, and is proportional to the increase of t. Then, N also increases. Therefore, by appropriately selecting n and s, the physical movement amount t of the keyboard with the coordinate input function can be detected from the total output pulse N. Further, the movement in the Y direction can be similarly detected.

Further, the movement in the reverse direction can be detected by the rotary encoder outputting a signal indicating forward rotation or reverse rotation. For example, by setting a rightward or upward movement as forward rotation, and setting a leftward or downward movement as reverse rotation, the information processing apparatus moves when the signal from the rotary encoder indicates forward rotation. The amount can be treated as a positive value, and the amount of movement can be treated as a negative value when the signal indicates reversal.

From the detected movement amounts in both directions, the actual movement amount of the keyboard can be obtained as shown in FIG.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of the coordinate input device of this embodiment.

The coordinate input device 200 has a freely rotatable ball 11 for detecting the movement amount of the X and Y coordinates and an auxiliary ball 12 for detecting the Y 'coordinate in the lower part in the thickness direction of the device. It is provided in.

The X coordinate component of the rotation of the ball 11 is the ball 1
The movement amount of the X coordinate is transmitted to the X coordinate detection roller that is in contact with 1 and detected by the X coordinate detection rotary encoder 9 connected with the same axis as the X coordinate detection roller. The Y-coordinate component of the rotation of the ball 11 is transmitted to a Y-coordinate detection roller that is in contact with the ball 11, and the Y-coordinate movement amount from the Y-coordinate detection rotary encoder 10 connected on the same axis as the Y-coordinate detection roller. Is detected. Further, the Y 'coordinate component of the rotation of the auxiliary ball 12 is transmitted to a Y' coordinate detecting roller in contact with the auxiliary ball 12, and the Y 'coordinate detecting rotary encoder 13 connected to the same axis as the Y' detecting coordinate roller. , The movement amount of the Y ′ coordinate is detected.

From the X, Y, Y 'coordinates detected in this way, the inclination angle of the apparatus itself can be obtained in addition to the movement amount of the coordinate input apparatus. Can be done.

FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining a method of detecting an inclination angle. In FIG. 5, A is the auxiliary ball 1
The center point of 2, C is the center point of the ball 11, B is any point between A and C, the distance between AB is a, and the distance between AC is L.

When the coordinate input device rotates, A,
Since it is possible to rotate around each of B and C, each case will be described. In the following description, for simplicity, each rotary encoder outputs the distance traveled by each ball.

(1) In the case of rotation about A In this case, θ [ra
d] The rotation does not move the Y ′ coordinate, and the output N _{Y ′} of the Y ′ coordinate detection rotary encoder is N _{Y ′} = 0 (Equation 4).

Since the rotation is performed with L as a radius, X
Output value N _X of the rotary encoder for the coordinate detection is also zero.

Then, only the Y coordinate moves, and the amount of movement is represented by the output value N _Y of the rotary encoder for detecting the Y coordinate. N _Y = (2πL) × (θ / 2π) = Lθ [m]・ (Equation 5)

(2) Rotation around B In this case, the output value N _X of the rotary encoder for X coordinate detection is 0.

Then, a rotary encoder for detecting the Y coordinate
Output N_YAnd Y 'coordinate rotary encoder
Output N_{Y '}Is output. The Y coordinate is centered on B,
θ [rad], and the Y ′ coordinate is −θ around B.
[Rad] Because it rotates, N _YAnd N_{Y '}Is N_Y= [2π (La)] x (θ / 2π) = (La) θ [m] (Equation 6) N_{Y '}= (2πa) × (−θ / 2π) = − aθ [m] (Equation 7)

(3) Case of Rotation about C In this case, -θ [ra about the center point C of the ball
d] Because of rotation, there is no movement of X and Y coordinates,
The output N _{X of the} rotary encoder for X coordinate detection is 0, and the output N _{Y of the} rotary encoder for Y coordinate detection is N _Y = 0 (Equation 8).

Then, only the Y 'coordinate moves, and the moving amount is the output value N _{Y' of the} rotary encoder for detecting the Y 'coordinate.
N _{Y ′} = (2πL) × (−θ / 2π) = − Lθ [m] (Equation 9)

As described above, the Y coordinate and the Y ′ coordinate are obtained for the case where the rotation is performed about each of A, B, and C. When focusing on the difference between the two, the above equations 4 to 9 give: When rotating around any of A, B, and C, N _Y -N _{Y ′} = Lθ [m] (Equation 10). That is, Expression 10 is applied to the case where the coordinate input device is rotated about any point between A and C.

Next, a case where B, which is the center of rotation, is outside A and C will be described.

(4) Case where B is Outside of A FIG. 6 is a plan view for explaining a method of detecting the inclination angle in this case. In FIG. 6, A is the auxiliary ball 12
, C is the center point of the ball 11, B is an arbitrary point outside A, and is a point that becomes the center of rotation. AB
The distance between them is a, and the distance between ACs is L.

In this case, since the rotation is performed about an arbitrary point B outside A, the output value N _X of the rotary encoder for X coordinate detection is 0.

[0052] Then, the output N _Y and Y 'output N _Y of the detection coordinates rotary _encoder' of the rotary encoder for detecting Y-coordinate is output. Since the Y coordinate and the Y ′ coordinate rotate θ [rad] about B, N _Y and N
_{Y ′} is N _Y = [2π (L + a)] × (θ / 2π) = (L + a) θ [m] (Expression 11) N _{Y ′} = (2πa) × (θ / 2π) = aθ [ m] (Equation 12)

(5) Case where B is Outside C FIG. 7 is a plan view for explaining a method of detecting the inclination angle in this case. In FIG. 7, A is the auxiliary ball 12
, C is the center point of the ball 11, and B is any point outside of C, which is the point of rotation. Also, BC
The distance between them is a, and the distance between ACs is L.

In this case, since the rotation is made around an arbitrary point B outside C, the output value N _X of the rotary encoder for X coordinate detection is zero.

Then, the output N _{Y of the} rotary encoder for detecting the Y coordinate and the output N _{Y ′ of the} rotary encoder for detecting the Y ′ coordinate are output. Since the Y coordinate and the Y ′ coordinate are rotated by −θ [rad] about B, N _Y and N _{Y ′}
N _Y = [2π (L + a)] × (−θ / 2π) = − (L + a) θ [m] (Expression 13) N _{Y ′} = (2πa) × (−θ / 2π) = − aθ [m] (Equation 14)

As described above, when the difference between the Y coordinate and the Y ′ coordinate is focused on the case where B is outside of either A or C, from the above equations 11 to 14, as described above, N _Y− N _{Y ′} = Lθ [m] (Equation 10) holds. Then, when Equation 10 is solved for θ, θ = (N _Y −N _{Y ′} ) / L (Equation 15) is obtained.

Where L is the distance between two balls,
It is a constant that does not change. Therefore, by detecting the amount of movement of the coordinates Y and Y ′ of each ball, the expression 15
Thus, the inclination angle of the coordinate input device itself can be detected. Alternatively, even if the movement amounts of the coordinates X and X 'of each ball are detected, similarly, the inclination angle of the coordinate input device itself can be detected.

(6) Case where B is not on the line connecting AC In the above (1) to (5), the case where the center point B of rotation is on the line connecting AC is described. Here, as shown in FIG. Next, a case of rotation about a point B not on the line connecting AC will be described.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the rotation center point B
On the other hand, when the X-coordinate detection roller 51 is arranged parallel to the tangent to the rotation radius r, and the Y-coordinate detection roller 52 is arranged perpendicular to the tangent to the rotation radius r, and rotates θ [rad] about B. Output value N of rotary encoder for X coordinate detection
_X becomes 0, and the output N _Y of the _Y -coordinate detection rotary encoder becomes N _Y = 2πr × (θ / 2π) = rθ [m].

Next, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), the X-coordinate detecting roller 51 and the Y-coordinate detecting roller 52 are shifted by θ with respect to the rotation radius r connecting the center point B of rotation and the ball center.
₂ [rad] and θ ₀ [ra
d] When rotating, the output value N _{X of the} rotary encoder for X coordinate detection and the output N _{Y of the} rotary encoder for Y coordinate detection are: N _X = 2πr × (θ ₀ / 2π) × sin θ ₂ = rθ ₀ sin
θ ₂ [m] N _Y = 2πr × (θ ₀ / 2π) × cos θ ₂ = rθ ₀ cos
θ ₂ [m].

From the above, as shown in FIG. 9C, the function of detecting the two balls and the rotation of each ball by the X coordinate detecting roller, the Y coordinate detecting roller, and the Y 'coordinate detecting roller. The output value of each rotary encoder when the keyboard having is rotated by θ [rad] around B is: N _X = 2πb ₁ × (θ ₀ / 2π) × sin θ ₂ = b ₁ θ ₀ sin θ ₂ [m] N _Y = 2πb ₁ × (θ ₀ / 2π) × cos θ ₂ = b ₁ θ ₀ cos θ ₂ [m] (Equation 16) N _{Y ′} = −2πa ₁ × (θ ₀ / 2π) × cos θ ₁ = −a ₁ θ ₀ cos θ ₁ [m] (Equation 17) Incidentally, a ₁ is the distance between AB, b ₁ represents the distance between BC, D is the perpendicular line from B to AC. Also,
The Y 'coordinate detecting roller 53 is displaced by θ ₁ [rad] with respect to the rotation radius connecting the rotation center point B and the ball center.

Here, focusing on the triangle ABC, L = a ₁ cos θ ₁ + b ₁ cos θ ₂ [m] (Equation 18) is established. L indicates the distance between ACs.

From the above equations 16 and 17, N _Y −N _{Y ′} = b ₁ θ ₀ cos θ ₂ + a ₁ θ ₀ cos θ ₁ = θ
₀ (b ₁ cos θ ₂ + a ₁ cos θ ₁ ) [m] holds. Then, when the above equation 18 is substituted, N _Y −N _{Y ′} = θ ₀ L [m], and when θ is solved, θ = (N _Y −N _{Y ′} ) / L (Equation 19) .

Where L is the distance between the two balls,
It is a constant that does not change. Therefore, by detecting the amount of movement of the coordinates Y and Y ′ of each ball, the expression 19
Thus, the inclination angle of the coordinate input device itself can be detected. Alternatively, even if the movement amounts of the coordinates X and X 'of each ball are detected, similarly, the inclination angle of the coordinate input device itself can be detected.

If the tilt angle of the keyboard becomes large and the keyboard is tilted to near 90 °, there is a possibility that key input becomes difficult. By doing
It is considered that no problem occurs in key input.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a coordinate input device according to this embodiment.

In the coordinate input device 300, the microswitch 15 is disposed above the ball 14 and the auxiliary ball 15, and the ball is pressed by the spring restrainer 16 so that the microswitch 15 is not erroneously pressed during a moving operation or the like. The retainer 17 always pushes down the balls 14 and 15. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 18 denotes a rotary encoder, and reference numeral 19 denotes a roller.

In the coordinate input device, when the user performs the switch operation Y, as shown in FIG. 11, the ball 14 and the auxiliary ball 15 are pushed by pushing down the right end or the left end of the cabinet with the palm as shown in FIG. Will be pressed.

Thus, a switch operation can be quickly performed while performing a moving operation of the coordinate input device, a keyboard input, and the like. In the above figure, the inclination of the keyboard is shown large for the sake of explanation. However, the shape of the microswitch is a few mm square and the stroke is about 1 mm or less, which is extremely small with respect to the length in the lateral direction of the keyboard. Even when the switch is turned on, it does not tilt so as to prevent key input.

In the third embodiment, the micro switch may be provided only on one of the ball and the auxiliary ball.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an initial state of the coordinate input device of this embodiment. At this time, it is assumed that the horizontal position X = 0, the vertical position Y = 0, and the rotation angle θ = 0 of the coordinate input device.

Next, as shown in FIG. 13, it is assumed that the user rotates the coordinate input device so that the horizontal position X = 0, the vertical position Y = 0, and the rotation angle θ = θ _M. I do.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 14, assuming that the user has moved by b in the vertical direction, despite the fact that the user intended to move the coordinates in the vertical direction,
As shown in FIG. 15, a coordinate movement shifted from the vertical direction by θ _M [rad] is input.

The correction in this case can be performed, for example, according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, the movement amounts L _X and L _{Y of the} coordinate input device and the inclination angle θ _M are cleared.

Next, similarly to the second embodiment, the movement amounts M _X and M _Y and the rotation angle θ _M of the coordinate input device are detected. Since this value is a value in the rectangular coordinate system, it is converted into a curved coordinate system, and √ (MX ² + MY ² ), ∠tan ^-1 (M _Y / M _X ) (Equation 20).

To this angle portion, the previously stored rotation angle θ _M of the coordinate input device is added, and 角度 (MX ² + MY ² ), Δtan ⁻¹ (M _Y / M _X ) + θ _M. Equation 21)

When this is again converted to the rectangular coordinate system, the corrected movement amounts L _Y and L _X are L _Y = √ (MX ² + MY ² ) · sin (tan ^-1 (M _Y / M _X ) + θ _M ). obtained as (equation _{22) L X = √ (MX} 2 + MY 2) · cos (tan -1 (M Y / M X) + θ M) ··· ( equation 23).

Here, the value of tan ^-1 is -π to π [rad].
Since the range of, when handling the rotational angle of such magnitude exceeds the range, it is necessary to adjust the value of tan ^-1 of the codes of M _X.

[0080] Therefore, when the value of M _X is + corrects the movement amount using the above equation 18 and equation 19, the value of M _X is - in the case ^{_{of, L Y = √ (MX 2}} + MY ² ) · sin (tan ⁻¹ (M _Y / M _X ) + π + θ _M ) (Equation 24) L _X = √ (MX ² + MY ² ) · cos (tan ⁻¹ (M _Y / M _X ) + π + θ _M ) It is necessary to correct the movement amount as in (Equation 25).

In the second to fourth embodiments, the keyboard is provided with the coordinate detecting function and the tilt detecting function. However, the coordinate input device such as a mouse is provided with the tilt detecting function and the third embodiment as in the second embodiment. , Or a coordinate correction function as in the fourth embodiment.

(Embodiment 5) In Embodiment 2, the method of detecting the inclination angle of the coordinate input device by adding an auxiliary ball having the same diameter as the freely rotatable ball has been described. A mouse or the like as a device has a shape as shown in FIG. 18, and it is difficult to additionally provide a ball having the same diameter due to a demand for miniaturization.
In FIG. 18, reference numeral 21 denotes a ball; 22, a rotary encoder for detecting a Y coordinate; 23, a roller for detecting a Y coordinate; 24, a rotary encoder for detecting an X coordinate;
Denotes an X coordinate detection roller.

By the way, as shown in the first embodiment, when the rotary encoder outputs n pulses every one rotation and the roller radius is s [m], the coordinate input device is moved by t [m]. As described above, the total output pulse N of the rotary encoder is represented by N = nt · (2πs) (Equation 3).

Since this formula does not include the ball radius, the amount of movement of the coordinate input device does not depend on the ball radius.
It can be seen that it depends only on the radius of the roller.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, by providing a small ball having a diameter different from that of the ball 21 as the auxiliary coordinate detection ball 26, the same coordinate input function and rotation as in the second embodiment are provided. The angle input function can be realized, and the size of the coordinate input device can be reduced.
In FIG. 17, 27 is a roller for detecting auxiliary coordinates, 28 is a rotary encoder for detecting auxiliary coordinates, 32
Is a rotary encoder for detecting a Y coordinate, 33 is a roller for detecting a Y coordinate, 34 is a rotary encoder for detecting an X coordinate, and 35 is a roller for detecting an X coordinate.

In the fifth embodiment, a ball having a different diameter and an auxiliary ball are provided below the mouse, but may be provided on a keyboard as shown in the second to fourth embodiments.

[0087]

As described above in detail, in the case of the present invention, various operations such as input from the keyboard, input of coordinates and switch operation can be performed quickly without releasing the hand from the keyboard. Operation efficiency can be improved. Further, various applications are possible, such as switching an input language mode by a tilt angle or a switch operation, and controlling a tilt operation of an object on a screen in CAD by a tilt angle of an input device.

The coordinate value can be corrected by the coordinate movement while the coordinate input device is kept horizontal and the coordinate movement when the coordinate input device is tilted, so that the operator can obtain a natural operation feeling and the work efficiency can be improved. It can be further improved. Further, by making the diameters of the spherical body and the auxiliary spherical body different, the present invention can also be applied to a miniaturized input device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view illustrating a configuration of a keyboard with a coordinate input function according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an internal configuration of a keyboard with a coordinate input function according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of detecting an actual keyboard movement amount from movement amounts in an X direction and a Y direction in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating an internal configuration of a coordinate input device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining a method of detecting a tilt angle in a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view for explaining a method of detecting a tilt angle in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view for explaining a method of detecting a tilt angle in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view for explaining a method of detecting a tilt angle in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view for explaining a method of detecting a tilt angle in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a coordinate input device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a side view for explaining an operation method of the coordinate input device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view for explaining that a detected coordinate movement amount is different before and after the tilt operation of the coordinate input device in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a plan view for explaining that a detected coordinate movement amount is different before and after the tilt operation of the coordinate input device in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a plan view for explaining that a detected coordinate movement amount is different before and after the tilt operation of the coordinate input device in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a plan view for explaining that a detected coordinate movement amount is different before and after the tilt operation of the coordinate input device in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of coordinate correction according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of the coordinate input device of the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of a conventional coordinate input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Function key 2 Numeric keypad 3 Main key 4, 11, 14, 21, 31 Ball 5, 23, 33 Roller for Y coordinate detection 6, 10, 22, 32 Rotary encoder for Y coordinate detection 7, 25, 35 For X coordinate detection Rollers 8, 9, 24, 34 Rotary encoder for X coordinate detection 12, 20, 26 Auxiliary ball 13 Rotary encoder for Y 'coordinate detection 15 Micro switch 16 Spring 17 Ball hold 18 Rotary encoder 19 Roller 27 Roller for auxiliary coordinate detection 28 Auxiliary Rotary encoder for coordinate detection

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A freely rotatable spherical body is provided at a lower part in a thickness direction of a keyboard, and a direction in which the spherical body rotates is divided into an X direction and a Y direction orthogonal to each other, and a moving amount in each direction is detected. A keyboard with a coordinate input function, wherein coordinates can be input by detecting the amount of movement of the keyboard from the detected amount of movement. 2. An auxiliary spherical body that is freely rotatable in addition to the spherical body below the keyboard in the thickness direction, and auxiliary coordinates Y ′ or X ′ detected from a movement amount of the auxiliary spherical body; 2. The keyboard with a coordinate input function according to claim 1, wherein the tilt angle of the keyboard can be input together with the coordinate input based on the coordinates X and Y detected from the movement amount of the spherical body. 3. A microswitch is provided on at least one of the spherical body and the auxiliary spherical body,
3. The keyboard with a coordinate input function according to claim 2, wherein the micro switch can be operated by depressing the keyboard. 4. A tilt angle for correcting a difference between a detection amount in the X direction and a detection amount in the Y direction generated when the keyboard is moved between the state before the tilt operation of the keyboard and the state after the tilt operation of the keyboard. 4. The keyboard with a coordinate input function according to claim 2, wherein the coordinate is corrected by storing the coordinate. 5. The keyboard according to claim 2, wherein the spherical body and the auxiliary spherical body have different diameters. 6. A freely rotatable spherical body is provided at a lower part in a thickness direction of the apparatus, and a direction in which the spherical body rotates is divided into an X direction and a Y direction orthogonal to each other, and a movement amount in each direction is detected. In a coordinate input device capable of inputting coordinates by detecting a movement amount of the device itself from the detected movement amount, a freely rotatable auxiliary spherical body in addition to the spherical body is provided at a lower portion in a thickness direction of the device. The coordinate input and the tilt angle of the device itself are input by the auxiliary coordinates Y ′ or X ′ detected from the movement amount of the auxiliary spherical body and the coordinates X and Y detected from the movement amount of the spherical body. Possible coordinate input device. 7. A microswitch is provided on at least one of the spherical body and the auxiliary spherical body,
7. The coordinate input device according to claim 6, wherein the microswitch can be operated by depressing the device itself. 8. A method for correcting a difference between detection amounts in an X direction and a Y direction caused when a moving operation of the device is performed between a state before the tilt operation and a state after the tilt operation of the device.
8. The coordinate input device according to claim 6, wherein coordinate correction is enabled by storing an inclination angle. 9. The coordinate input device according to claim 6, wherein said spherical body and said auxiliary spherical body have different diameters.