JP2001242986A - Information input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new and efficient information input device which can make good use of the advantage of a keyboard method without making the keyboard itself for the input device being a big wall against miniaturization of a computer, a portable terminal, and so on. SOLUTION: The new information input device can be provided by relocating a keyboard at the back or palm side of hand rather than by neglecting a conventional keyboard device. In this case, a position sensor located at fingertip is collected in a minute matrix, and such a sensor enables us to input both character and sign by ON and OFF of such a matrix-type switch.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device having a CPU and a memory such as a personal computer, an electronic organizer, and a portable terminal, for inputting data and information and performing arithmetic processing in an electronic device for performing arithmetic processing and storing data. The present invention relates to an input device for giving instructions and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, personal computers,
As input devices in electronic devices such as electronic notebooks and calculators, keyboards, numeric keys, and other push-button switches are mainly used.

[0003] In addition to the input devices described above, a mouse, a light, and the like are input by specifying a position on the screen of the display device and inputting coordinates or by selecting a command on a menu screen on the display. Pens and the like are known.

[0004]

Among the above input devices, a keyboard is the most common input device in a computer system. However, the size of a keyboard that can be used comfortably depends on the size of a fingertip to be operated. This has become a major obstacle in reducing the size and weight of computer systems and word processors that can input text and the like in earnest.

[0005] On the other hand, as a small-sized input device for solving the above-mentioned weak points of the keyboard, various developments have been made on an input device that can be worn on a hand. However, from the idea of miniaturization and lightening, that is, the idea of removing the keyboard, there are many things that need to be entered using a completely new symbol system, so that computer users learn new operation methods without having to do so. Required to do so.
Most of the current keyboard operation methods are now learning even for Japanese people with the aim of operating with blind touch, and in Europe and the United States, it is difficult to obtain public support with other input symbol systems. is expected.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances,
While trying to remove the keyboard in terms of size and weight, it was an input device that did not feel uncomfortable with the keyboard in terms of operability, and completely changed the current keyboard where walking from the side was important, It was made to move as close as possible to the fingers and taken into the hands.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems The input device of the present invention comprises:
A switch for inputting data to an electronic device such as a computer or a portable terminal, the switch generating an ON / OFF signal by contact, and receiving a signal from the switch on the back of a hand or a palm and transmitting the signal to a conversion unit. The present invention is a solution to the above-mentioned problem, which comprises means, a receiving unit for receiving and converting a signal from the transmitting means, and mounting means for mounting these on a hand.

[0008]

In the case of using the input device having the above-mentioned configuration, a display or an ultra-compact personal computer can be used for inputting characters and data to a computer, a portable terminal, or the like, or responding to e-mail while moving without using a hard and large keyboard. As fast as you can with your keyboard, on a train, on your knees sitting in a car seat, etc. You can input with. In addition, when the apparatus is worn, the character string is fixed for each finger, so that input errors in the column direction are greatly reduced.

[0009]

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows that the input device A of this embodiment is of the "back type", and the input device mounted on one hand corresponds to half of the keyboard. It can also be used with both hands or switching one hand for the other hand (assuming sacrificing input efficiency). (In the following examples,
It is assumed that the input is made with both hands, but the explanation will be made with one hand on the right. The configuration of the present apparatus is as follows: a mounting means 1 for mounting on a hand, a detecting means 2 for grasping the position of a fingertip by the degree of a finger, a receiving means 3 for receiving a signal of the detecting means and grasping a positional relationship between the signals, It is composed of a conversion unit 4 and a transmission unit 5 for converting and transmitting characters.

The mounting means 1 is a glove-like net and, if necessary, processed with leather, synthetic leather, cloth, etc. on the back of the hand, and an on / off switch and a small battery, LED ( Light emitting diode). A fin-like finger sensor guide 8 made of resin is fixed to the back of the finger, the receiving means 4 and the converting means 5 are fixed to the back of the hand, and the actual mounting means itself is a magic band (registered) with the wrist. (Trademark) 7 or the like.

In order to display the position of a finger regardless of whether an on / off switch is pressed for input training for a beginner or the like, power is separately supplied to the LED at the fingertip, and a signal for pressing the fingertip is converted by another system. We will respond by telling the department.

In FIG. 2, the detecting means is a resin-made finger sensor guide 9 running in the center of the back of each finger to the back of the hand,
A leading sensor (optical fiber) 4 for transmitting an optical signal from the light source at the fingertip to the receiving section, and a prism or micro mirror (mirror) 5 at the end of the sensor at the end of the receiving section side.
And works to deliver the signal to the receiver.

The receiving means 3 guides a total of seven optical fibers, each including five optical fibers reaching from each finger and one optical fiber for detecting the amount of lateral movement of the forefinger and little finger, into a transparent cylinder. The rearmost mirror of the optical fiber is moved in the cylinder by the expansion and contraction of the leading sensor. The cylinder is covered with a row of light receiving elements, and the reflected light from the rearmost mirror of the optical fiber that reciprocates thereunder,
The light receiving elements of the corresponding arrangement are assembled so as to receive the light. (Fig. 3)

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in the receiving means, the light receiving elements are arranged in a matrix, and the light receiving elements become conductive and have the same effect as pressing a switch.

In FIG. 6, the conversion means scans the matrix of the light receiving elements, detects the positions of the elements in the conductive state, converts them into characters or symbols corresponding to the arrangement, and then applies wiring, infrared light or wireless network (eg, (E.g., bluetooth transmitting at 1 megabit / second in the 2.4 GHz band) to a main body interface unit of a computer, a portable terminal, or the like, and input is completed in place of a keyboard. (Fig. 5)

[0016]

Embodiment 2 Next, as another embodiment,
The input device B will be described. The input device B is a "deformed mouse type" (also called "xxxxxx"), in which the functions of the keyboard are condensed in the palm of both hands, and the key operation can be performed with the keyboard input method as it is. It is. The configuration of this device is as shown in FIG.
Attachment means 1b for fixing the OFF switch, detection means 2b for transmitting the position of the fingertip to the reception unit, reception means 3 for receiving the signal of the detection means and grasping the positional relationship of the signal
b, which comprises a conversion unit 4b and a transmission unit 5b that control conversion and transmission to characters.

The mounting means 1b has an on / off switch, a small battery, and an LED embedded in the bottom of the finger cap, and the LED is turned on when a finger is pressed.

The detecting means 2b is a thin pipe-shaped transmitting means for holding an optical fiber for transmitting an optical signal from the light source of the fingertip inside, and simultaneously presses the ON / OFF switch with the fingertip position information to the receiving unit. introduce.

In the receiving means 3b, five optical signals arriving from each finger in the case of the deformed mouse are guided one by one into a transparent cylinder, and are passed through a mirror attached to the rear end of the optical fiber. The light is received by a light receiving element arranged so as to cover the transparent cylinder.

In the receiving means 3b, the light receiving elements are arranged in a matrix, and the light receiving elements become conductive and have the same effect as pressing a switch.

In the input device B, it is difficult to move the forefinger and the little finger in the horizontal direction, and it is difficult to input H, G columns, shift with the little finger, and input to peripheral keys such as the enter key with the forefinger. Is provided in the palm of the lower part of the input device near the wrist-side edge. For the lateral movement of the forefinger, one inner scale is rotated with a ratchet function, and by detecting this rotation angle,
The operation can be performed as if the finger were moved laterally from the rows J and F to the rows G and H.

The horizontal row movement on the little finger side increases particularly on the right side.
Three scales are prepared for the row and the enter row, and detection is performed by switching the scale.

The method of reducing the burden on the index finger and the little finger by the palm turn can be applied to the input device A.

Both the input devices A and B are provided with an on / off switch at the palm of the hand, and by repeatedly pressing the switch, the input device is switched from the input device to the mouse or vice versa, whereby the hand position is changed. Can be used instantaneously for mouse operation and key input operation.

Since the input unit B is the same as the input unit B in the conversion unit and below, the description is omitted.

[0026]

As described in detail above, the input device according to the present invention takes the keyboard into the hand, so that the input device is free from the restrictions of the keyboard, and the personal computer and the mobile terminal do not require a keyboard. Only the display and interface are required, and the size is greatly reduced. Furthermore, since there are no restrictions on places such as moving, it can greatly contribute to the full-fledged era of the mobile computing era.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an input device A (a back type) according to a first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 mounting means (net or back) 2 detecting means, leading sensor (optical fiber) 3 receiving unit 4 converting unit 5 transmitting means 6 on / off switch 7 magic band 8 leading sensor guide 9 power supply and on when finger position is always displayed, Off signal line

FIG. 2 shows the principle of operation of a leading sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 On / off switch 2 Battery 3 LED (light emitting diode) 4 Lead sensor (optical fiber) 5 Mirror 6 Transparent cylinder 7 Light receiving element row 8 Receiver 9 Lead sensor sensor

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the input device A.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thumb 2 Index finger 3 Index finger base movement sensor 4 Middle finger 5 Ring finger 6 Little finger base movement sensor 7 Little finger 8 Light receiving element row (When rotating the hand direction using a palm turn, 3 and 6 are unnecessary.)

FIG. 4 shows a relationship between a leading sensor (right hand) receiving unit and a keyboard (right half).

FIG. 5 shows a relationship between a leading sensor (left hand) receiving unit and a keyboard (left half).

FIG. 6 shows a leading sensor receiving unit (light receiving element) matrix and a conversion unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 sensor matrix for right hand 2 switch 3 pull-up resistor 4 diode 5 converter 6 input port 7 output port

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an input device B (modified mouse type—for right hand—).

[Explanation of symbols]

1b Mounting means (finger cap including on / off switch and small battery) 2b Detecting means (optical fiber and resin-made transparent thin tube) 3b Receiving means (light receiving element array) 6 Palm turn (circumferential direction), mouse / key changeover switch ( (Up and down direction) 7 Home key position 8 Outermost position (function key line) 9 Storage position (space key line)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H03M 11/22 G06F 3/033 310

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. Information on a computer, a small portable terminal, etc.,
What is claimed is: 1. An input device for inputting data, wherein input is realized without using a keyboard, which is an existing input device, and with the same finger operation as using a keyboard. 2. An input switch (electrical switch) is attached to each fingertip using a net or the like that can be attached and detached and firmly adheres to the surface of five fingers, palms, back of hands and wrists to maintain elasticity. Means for generating an on / off signal) or, in addition, means for attaching a fingertip position sensor (hereinafter referred to as an input switch, etc.). An input device characterized in that a device having a conversion unit (hereinafter referred to as a reception unit or the like) for converting into numerical information is attached to one or both hands for use. 3. The mounting part such as an input switch of a fingertip part, the mounting part such as a receiving part of a back of a hand, etc. in claim 2 or a part of the entire surface corresponding to the back of the hand or the back of a finger. Input device including reinforcement with leather, cloth, etc.). 4. In place of the net according to claim 2, the palm portion of the glove excluding the fingertip is cut off, and a part of the opening is fixed so as to be in close contact with a string or the like from the palm side of the finger. An input device for preventing stuffiness. 5. An input switch, which can be turned on and off by a finger pressing pressure, is connected to a fingertip, and a power supply on the back of the hand is connected to the finger via the back or both sides of the finger, and an on / off signal from the fingertip is sent back. This allows the receiving unit to detect a position signal (column distinction) corresponding to the horizontal direction on the keyboard, and to extend from the fingertip through the center of the back of the finger to the receiving unit on the back of the hand. Equipped with a bar magnet and a cylindrical coil surrounding it at the tip of the part side, equivalent to the vertical direction on the keyboard by changing the position of the bar magnet that moves in the axial direction according to the bending angle of the finger in the coil An input device which detects a position signal (line distinction) to be performed, detects and converts these two-dimensional signals simultaneously by one-stroke pressing operation of a finger, and transmits the signals as input information of a computer or the like. 6. An input switch which can be turned on / off by pressing pressure of a finger is mounted in place of claim 5, and an LE switch is provided in the circuit.
D (light emitting diode) is incorporated and emits light in response to ON / OFF signals, and this light is partially transmitted from the fingertip to the receiver on the back of the hand via the back of the finger using a matrix of light receiving elements using an optical fiber or the like. Guided to the bottom, the position of the light receiving element that detected the light on the matrix,
An input device characterized by detecting a two-dimensional position signal (line distinction) in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction on a keyboard and transmitting the converted signal. 7. In place of claim 2, a mouse-like object having substantially the same size is attached under the palm, and extends from inside to outside of the mouse-like object (hereinafter, referred to as a receiving unit). Equipped with a thin rod-shaped transmission means that can reach up to five fingertips,
The signal of the on / off switch provided on the fingertip is extracted as an optical signal to be transmitted for each finger, the positional relationship of the fingertip is detected by the matrix of the light receiving sensor inside the receiver, and the row and column of An input device for detecting, converting and transmitting a two-dimensional distinction. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the position is transmitted by an optical signal, and the distance between the electromagnet and the coil, the change in the resistance value of the slide-type resistance wire on the receiving side, or the principle of the search coil is applied. An input device for detecting a dimensional positional relationship. 9. The method according to claim 2, wherein the function of the keyboard and the function of the mouse are instantaneously switched according to the number of times the receiving unit body is pressed down. 10. In the case of the mouse according to claim 9, the deviation between the thumb on the dominant arm side and the home key of the index finger causes the X-
It is characterized by giving an instruction in the Y direction. 11. A hand-mounted input device according to claim 2, wherein a rotating disk is provided at a lower portion near a wrist-side edge of a palm, and a row of keyboards is determined depending on a degree of rotation inward and outward. That detects the selection signal. 12. The method according to claim 2, wherein power is supplied to the receiving unit in a different system from the fingertip selection switch in order to constantly display the position of the finger on the screen for input support. . 13. A transmission system in which transmission from a receiving unit or the like to an interface of an information terminal such as a computer is connected by wire, an infrared transmission system, or a wireless network (for example, transmission at 1 megabit / second in the 2.4 GHz band). Bluetooth, etc.). 14. An input device corresponding to any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the input device has claims 1 and 13 as a common claim.