JP2001067180A - Optical pointing input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a reduced space, maintenance-free and a security countermeasure by fingerprint recognition by extracting the movement direction and amount of the contact surface of a fingertip or the like and outputting the output to an external part. SOLUTION: A pattern on the contact surface of the fingertip 101 (a fingerprint or the like) is photographed by a lens 102. A light source 108 illuminates the contact surface. A video input part 103 is provided with an optical area sensor for converting the pattern of the contact surface into image data for only a prescribed time. A storage part 110 temporarily stores image data from the input part 103. An image processing part 104 extracts line pattern data of the pattern such as the fingerprint on the contact surface. An orbit extracting part 105 extracts the movement direction and the movement amount of the contact surface from the output from the processing part 104. Then a mouse interface part (mouse I/F part) 106 outputs coordinate data of the movement direction and amount from the orbit extracting part 105 and image data of the storage part 110 to a personal computer or the like. A timing control part 107 synchronizes the operations of the respective parts and control them.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a pointing input device such as a mouse and a trackball of a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a pointing input device used in a personal computer or the like has mainly been a mouse or a trackball. However, a notebook type personal computer, which is a form of a personal computer, requires less space and is thinner. There is a need for a pointing input device with security.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a side view and a plan view showing a configuration of a trackball built in a notebook personal computer.

In FIGS. 2 (1) and 2 (2), a track ball is composed of a ball 201 rotated by a fingertip,
X-axis detection roller 202 for detecting rotation of X-direction 01
And a Y-axis detection roller 203 that detects rotation in the Y direction.

[0005] Ball 201 and detection rollers 202 and 203
The rotation of the ball 201 by the fingertip is transmitted to the detection rollers 202 and 203 by the friction with the roller. For this,
When dust accumulates between the ball 201 and the detection rollers 202 and 203, the detection rollers 202 and 203
As the mouse cursor moves slowly on the computer screen, it must be cleaned regularly.

The ball 201 of the trackball is
As the diameter increases, the operability can be improved. However, as the diameter increases, the thickness of the PC housing must be increased, so that the demand for space saving and thinning required for a notebook computer cannot be realized.

Furthermore, it is important to restrict the viewing, use, and modification of personal computer programs and data to specific users only. However, the above-mentioned conventional pointing input device requires security data. No output function.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional pointing input device, and to provide an optical pointing input device capable of saving space and maintenance free, and taking security measures by fingerprint recognition. I have.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an optical pointing input device according to the present invention comprises a lens for taking a close-up photograph of a contact surface pattern such as a fingertip, and a contact surface pattern through a lens. A video input unit that cuts out for a predetermined period by the variable speed electronic shutter function and converts the optical sensor into image data, a storage unit that stores the image data from the video input unit, and a line on the contact surface that processes the image data. An image processing unit that outputs pattern data, and line data of the contact surface such as a fingertip and coordinate data of a moving direction from the line pattern data from the image processing unit that receives the line pattern data from the image processing unit and the output of the storage unit as input. And a mouse interface for outputting image data from the storage unit and / or coordinate data from the information processing unit to an information processing device such as a personal computer. And over scan portion, and a timing control unit for controlling the various sections, as described above in each unit operate in synchronism.

Further, the image processing unit is provided with a brightness of a light source and a variable speed electronic shutter function so as to sharpen the pattern of the contact surface and extract line pattern data such as a fingerprint with high accuracy. A signal for controlling a period (a period during which light reflected from the contact surface is incident on the optical area sensor) is output to the timing control unit, and the timing control unit is configured to control the light source and the variable speed electronic shutter function. .

The optical pointing input device of the present invention uses a close-up lens and reduces the size by using an optical sensor to save space, and realizes maintenance-free by sealing the close-up lens and the optical area sensor. It is characterized in that it is configured to be able to perform.

Further, since the variable speed electronic shutter function and the light source are automatically controlled so that the pattern on the contact surface can be clearly read, the pattern on the contact surface can be read with high accuracy. Also, the light source is turned on only during the period of reading the pattern of the contact surface, thereby saving power.

Further, by transferring image data such as a fingerprint obtained when a fingertip or the like comes into contact with the contact surface from the mouse interface unit to the personal computer, security measures by fingerprint collation by the personal computer are also possible.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is directed to a lens for taking close-up pictures of a pattern of a contact surface such as a fingertip, a light source for illuminating the contact surface, and a lens. A video input unit including an optical area sensor that converts the shade of reflected light from the illuminated contact surface into image data, a storage unit that stores image data from the video input unit, An image processing unit that extracts line pattern data of a contact surface pattern, and the image processing that receives an output from the image processing unit that receives image data from the video input unit and an image data from the storage unit An optical system comprising: a trajectory extraction unit that compares the output of the contact surface by comparing outputs from the trajectory unit and extracts a movement amount; and a mouse interface unit that outputs an output from the trajectory extraction unit to the outside. Point This is a input device that detects the fingerprint and its movement with the lens and optical area sensor, which saves space and reduces the size and thickness, and allows the lens and optical area sensor to be sealed so that maintenance-free and security measures are possible. The effect that a pointing input device can be provided is obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video input unit having a variable speed electronic shutter function for converting the pattern of the contact surface into image data for a variable predetermined period, and a signal for controlling the predetermined period. 2. The optical pointing input device according to claim 1, further comprising: an image processing unit that outputs a signal to the timing control unit; and a timing control unit that controls the variable speed electronic shutter function according to an output of the image processing unit. 3. By appropriately limiting the amount of reflected light that enters the optical area sensor, the difference between the maximum incident light amount and the minimum incident light amount that does not saturate the optical area sensor can be maximized, so that the pattern on the contact surface can be clearly photographed, Clear image data and its line pattern data can be obtained, and the effect of improving the accuracy of detecting a contact surface such as a fingerprint can be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a light source capable of controlling brightness and the brightness of the light source are controlled so that line pattern data in the image processing unit can be extracted clearly and accurately. The optical pointing input device according to claim 1, further comprising: an image processing unit that outputs a signal to a timing control unit; and a timing control unit that controls brightness of the light source according to an output signal of the image processing unit. By appropriately limiting the amount of reflected light that enters the optical area sensor, the difference between the maximum incident light and the minimum incident light that does not saturate the optical area sensor can be maximized. And the line pattern data can be obtained, and the effect of improving the detection accuracy of a contact surface such as a fingerprint can be obtained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided timing control for controlling the light source to be turned on or to increase the brightness for a predetermined period during which the reflected light from the contact surface is input to the optical area sensor. The optical pointing input device according to claim 3, further comprising: a power-saving effect.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the relationship between the brightness of the light source, the predetermined period of the variable speed electronic shutter function, and the density of the reflected light of the pattern on the contact surface is stored in advance as a table. The optical pointing input device according to claim 3, further comprising an image processing unit that outputs a signal to a timing control unit according to the table, wherein the brightness of the light source and the variable speed electronic shutter function are combined. Thus, image data with a bright pattern on the contact surface and a large depth of field can be obtained.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the optical pointing input device according to the first aspect, further comprising a mouse interface unit for outputting the image data stored in the storage unit to the outside. An effect that security measures can be obtained in combination with a personal computer that can perform collation such as fingerprint collation with image data of a pattern such as a fingerprint is obtained.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of Embodiment 1 of an optical pointing input device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an optical pointing input device according to a first embodiment has a lens 102 for taking a close-up image of a pattern on a contact surface (such as a fingerprint) of a fingertip 101, and a light source for illuminating the contact surface. 108, a video input unit 103 provided with an optical area sensor for converting a contact surface pattern into image data for a predetermined period, a storage unit 110 for temporarily storing image data from the video input unit 103, and a fingerprint of the contact surface. Image processing unit 104 for extracting line pattern data of a pattern such as
A trajectory extraction unit 105 for extracting a moving direction and a moving amount of a contact surface from an output from the image processing unit 104; a moving direction and a moving amount from the trajectory extracting unit 105;
A mouse interface unit (abbreviated as a mouse I / F unit) 106 for outputting the image data of 10 to a personal computer or the like (not shown) 106 and a timing control unit 107 for controlling the operation of each unit in synchronization.

The structure for hermetically closing the lens 102 and the image input unit is not shown because it is publicly known.

The lens 102 is embedded in the housing surface 109 of the optical pointing input device, and the distance between the contact surface and the lens 102 is adjusted so that the image of the contact surface such as a fingertip can be photographed by the image input unit 103 through the lens 102. And lens 1
02 and the arrangement of the lens 102 and the video input unit 103 are designed.

The light source 108 is a period during which the optical area sensor of the image input unit 103 inputs (reads) the density of light reflected from the contact surface so that the line pattern of the contact surface to be illuminated is clearly extracted. That is, the timing is controlled by the timing control unit 107 so that the brightness is optimized only during the period in which the variable speed electronic shutter function is opened. If power saving is not required, the light source 108 may be constantly turned on.

Furthermore, usually, the pattern of the contact surface cannot be read, but the brightness of the light source is reduced to such an extent that the contact of the light source can be detected. Control may be performed so that the brightness of the light source is increased to such an extent that it can be read.

The image input unit 103 receives (opens) the density of the reflected light of the light source 108 from the contact surface through the lens 102 for a predetermined period by a variable speed electronic shutter function, and sets a predetermined opening / closing speed. Then, the data is converted into image data by an optical area sensor (a flat sensor or a two-dimensional sensor) such as a CCD.

In the variable speed electronic shutter function, the density of light reflected from the contact surface caused by illumination by the light source 108 is condensed by the lens 102,
This is realized in a period of input to the optical area sensor such as a CD (open) and a period of outputting image data without detecting the density of the input reflected light (close). This is realized by a variable electronic shutter that can be changed by a control signal from the control unit 107.

The lens 102 and the optical area sensor of the image input unit 103 or the contact surface and the lens 102
A variable speed electronic shutter function can be realized even if the liquid crystal panel is disposed between the two and the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel is controlled by opening and closing the application of a voltage to the liquid crystal panel.

The image processing section 104 extracts line pattern data of a pattern such as a fingerprint on a contact surface from the image data from the video input section 103. In order to improve the extraction accuracy, a signal for controlling the period during which the variable speed electronic shutter function of the video input unit 103 is open and the brightness of the light source 108 is sent to the timing control unit 107 by detecting the difference in the density of the image data. Output.

The storage unit 110 functions as a register for temporarily storing image data shot by the video input unit 103 for a predetermined period.
The frame data also serves as a frame memory when the image data converted in step (1) is transferred from the mouse I / F unit 106 to the personal computer. This image data transfer function enables fingerprint collation on a personal computer.

The trajectory extraction unit 105 also includes a storage unit 110
The image data temporarily stored in the image processing unit 104 is compared with the line pattern data extracted by the image processing unit 104, and the line pattern data extracted by the image processing unit 104 is compared with the line pattern data. The trajectory of the movement of the surface is extracted as the movement direction and the movement amount as coordinate data.

The mouse I / F unit 106 includes the locus extraction unit 10
5 and the coordinate data of the moving direction and the moving amount and the storage unit 110
Has the function of transmitting image data from the PC simultaneously or any one of them to a personal computer.

The mouse I / F unit 106 may output the line pattern data from the trajectory extraction unit 105 to the personal computer in order to reduce the processing load on the personal computer.

The timing control unit 107 includes a light source 108,
Video input unit 103, image processing unit 104, trajectory extraction unit 10
5. Control the mouse I / F unit 106 and the storage unit 110.

The timing control unit 107 controls the light source 1
By controlling the brightness of 08 and the period during which the variable speed electronic shutter function of the video input unit 103 is open, the accuracy of photographing the pattern on the contact surface is improved.

The relationship between the brightness of the light source, the period during which the variable-speed electronic shutter function is opened, and the difference in the density of the reflected light from the pattern on the contact surface is determined in advance by experimentally obtaining an optimal combination. It is set and stored in the processing unit 104. And
The difference in shading of the contact surface is detected, and according to this table, the timing control unit 1 steps in steps until the shading difference exceeds a predetermined value.
07 automatically controls the light source 108 and the variable speed electronic shutter function of the video input unit 103.

For example, it is assumed that an appropriate shade difference R is obtained in the period T and the brightness B.

If it is detected that the difference between the shades is 0.5 * R, it is determined that the brightness is insufficient, and the brightness is increased to 2 * B to detect the difference between the shades. If this is not less than the predetermined value R, the contact surface pattern is read in this state. Conversely, the difference in shade is 0.3 *
If R is detected, the brightness is considered to be excessive and the optical area sensor may be saturated.
, The period is shortened to 0.5 * T, and the difference in shade is detected, and the period is switched stepwise until a predetermined value R or more is obtained.

Of course, the same effect can be obtained by providing this table in the timing control section 107 instead of the image processing section 104.

Further, the timing control unit 107 synchronizes with the light source 108 only during the period when the variable speed electronic shutter function is open.
By controlling the variable speed electronic shutter function and the light source to turn on or increase the brightness, a power saving effect can also be obtained.

Next, the operation will be described.

When the fingertip 101 is placed on the lens 102, a fingerprint, which is a pattern of the contact surface of the fingertip 101, is illuminated by the light source 108, and the illumination light is condensed by the lens 102 as reflected light with shading of the fingerprint. The image is input to the optical area sensor of the image input unit 103.

The optical area sensor determines the density of the reflected light at a predetermined opening / closing speed for a predetermined period which is variable by a variable speed electronic shutter function of the video input unit 103 controlled by a signal of the timing control unit 107. Convert to image data. This image data is converted by the image processing unit 104 into line pattern data. The trajectory extraction unit 105 uses the line pattern data and the image data stored in the storage unit 110 to compare the line pattern data extracted by the image processing unit 104 with the movement amount and the movement direction of the contact surface of the fingertip. The data is output to an information device such as a personal computer via the mouse I / F unit 106 as data, and the cursor of the personal computer or the like is moved in accordance with the movement of the contact surface of the fingertip.

The image data of the fingertip stored in the storage unit 110 and / or the line pattern data from the trajectory extraction unit 105 are output to the personal computer via the mouse I / F unit 106 at the same time or one of them, and stored in the personal computer. The image data (fingerprint) of the fingertip or the line pattern data of the fingerprint is compared to determine whether the user is a specific individual, and if they match, a security function of permitting predetermined information processing is executed.

The image processing unit 104 controls an output for controlling the variable speed electronic shutter function of the light source 108 and the image input unit 103 so as to clearly extract image data such as fingerprints and line pattern data. Give to. For example, if the density of the reflected light from the fingerprint is unclear and the line pattern of the fingerprint is unclear, the brightness of the light source 108 and the period during which the variable speed electronic shutter function is opened are selected according to a table stored in advance so that the fingerprint becomes sharp. And outputs the result to the timing control unit 107.

Although the contact surface in the first embodiment has been described with a fingerprint, the present invention is not limited to a fingerprint, and a stamped surface of a personal name seal or a specific pattern is printed or stamped on the front end surface. The same effects as those of the present invention can be obtained with a rod-like shape.

The seal surface other than the fingerprint is used as the contact surface,
In the same way as the specific pattern such as the fingerprint described above, it is converted to the coordinate data of the moving direction and the moving amount, and the image data and line pattern data of the cursor movement of the personal computer and the marking surface are output to the personal computer,
It is clear that security functions can be realized on a personal computer.

The image processing unit 104 and the trajectory extraction unit 10
5. It is easy for those skilled in the art that the mouse I / F unit 106 can be configured by a microcontroller program.

[0050]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Solving the above-mentioned problem of the conventional pointing input device,
It is possible to provide an optical pointing input device that is space-saving, maintenance-free, and capable of taking security measures by recognizing patterns such as fingerprints.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical pointing input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a conventional trackball.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Fingertip 102 Lens 103 Image input unit 104 Image processing unit 105 Locus extraction unit 106 Mouse I / F unit 107 Timing control unit 108 Light source 109 Housing surface 110 Storage unit 201 Ball 202 X-axis detection roller 203 Y-axis detection roller

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A lens for taking a close-up image of a pattern on a contact surface such as a fingertip, a light source for illuminating the contact surface, and an image of light and shade of light reflected from the contact surface condensed by the lens. A video input unit provided with an optical area sensor for converting data into data, a storage unit for storing image data from the video input unit, and an image processing unit for extracting line pattern data of the contact surface pattern from the image data And comparing the output from the image processing unit that receives the image data from the video input unit with the output from the image processing unit that receives the image data from the storage unit as the input, and the moving direction of the contact surface. An optical pointing input device, comprising: a trajectory extraction unit for extracting a movement amount; and a mouse interface unit for outputting an output from the trajectory extraction unit to the outside. 2. A video input unit having a variable speed electronic shutter function for converting a pattern of the contact surface into image data for a variable predetermined period, and an image processing for outputting a signal for controlling the predetermined period to the timing control unit. The optical pointing input device according to claim 1, further comprising a unit, and a timing control unit that controls the variable speed electronic shutter function according to an output of the image processing unit. 3. A light source capable of controlling brightness so that line pattern data can be clearly and accurately extracted in the image processing unit, and an image processing unit for outputting a signal for controlling brightness of the light source to a timing control unit. The optical pointing input device according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit; and a timing control unit configured to control brightness of the light source according to an output signal of the image processing unit. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a timing control section for controlling the light source to be turned on or to increase the brightness for a predetermined period during which the reflected light from the contact surface is input to the optical area sensor. Optical pointing input device. 5. The relation between the brightness of the light source, the predetermined period of the variable speed electronic shutter function, and the density of the reflected light of the pattern on the contact surface is stored in a table in advance, and a signal is sent to the timing control unit in accordance with the table. The optical pointing input device according to claim 3, further comprising an image processing unit that outputs the image data. 6. The optical pointing input device according to claim 1, further comprising a mouse interface unit for outputting the image data stored in the storage unit to the outside.