JP2001282452A - Mouse input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To construct an inexpensive computer system to easily fetch image information, etc., and to enhance operability. SOLUTION: This mouse input device is connected with the computer system 20 based on a USB standard and constituted by mounting a coordinate information input means 5, a CCD imaging means 7, an image processing means 8 to perform a signal processing of imaging information and a voice input means 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mouse input device provided in a computer device or the like for inputting coordinate information and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a computer device or the like, position information such as moving a cursor or a mouse pointer indicating a coordinate point to an arbitrary position on a screen displayed on an image display device (monitor) or designating a range. A mouse input device is used as an input device. The mouse input device generally includes a case body, a trackball housed rotatably by exposing a part of the outer peripheral surface to the outside from the bottom surface, and a plurality of click buttons arranged on the surface of the case body. It is configured.

[0003] The mouse input device is gripped so as to enclose a case body and is moved on a desk or the like, whereby a built-in trackball is rotated. The mouse input device detects the amount and direction of rotation of the trackball by an encoder, and outputs a drive output for moving a cursor or a mouse pointer to a computer device. The mouse input device performs various input operations corresponding to screens by operating a click button while a cursor or the like reaches a designated position on a monitor.

In addition to the mouse input device, various input devices such as a keyboard, an electronic pen and a scanner, and output devices such as a printer are connected to the computer device and the monitor. An external storage device such as a hard disk device and a digital versatile disk device and a transmission control device such as a modem are also connected to the computer device. An external imaging device such as a digital video camera or a digital camera is also connected to the computer device, and a system configuration in which various peripheral devices are connected is achieved.

[0005] In a computer device, these various peripheral devices are connected via an interface bus based on a predetermined standard. Various standards have been proposed for the interface bus in accordance with the increase in speed and functionality of computer systems. For example, the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard is widely used as a medium-low speed compatible standard. According to the USB standard, information signals and the like are exchanged with each connected peripheral device via a hub device, and power is also supplied.

In the mouse input device, an optical mouse input device conforming to the USB standard for optically detecting a coordinate position is provided instead of the above-described trackball and encoder. The optical mouse input device, for example, a light source such as an LED or a semiconductor laser and a photodetector are incorporated in a case body,
A change in state between the light emitted from the light source and the light returned from the grid pad, the desk surface, or the like is detected by a photodetector to obtain coordinate information.

[0007]

By the way, in the computer device, various utilization forms are being developed. For example, as the latest utilization forms, for example, the capture of image information,
The specific gravity of processing is increasing. In computer devices, for example, in net communication and the like, the use form of a net meeting using a so-called videophone function is increasing. To this end, some computer devices are provided in which a computer body is provided with a CCD camera and a microphone. However, such a computer device has a problem that its use is also limited because the CCD camera and the microphone are fixed and the imaging area is limited.

For this reason, conventionally, as described above, an image input device such as a digital video camera or a digital camera is connected via the hub device and used as an input device for image information or image information. However, such an aspect has a problem that a digital video camera or a digital camera is individually connected, which complicates the system configuration and is expensive. Further, in such an aspect, after displaying image information and the like from a digital camera or the like on a monitor, it is necessary to perform an operation of fitting the image information to a predetermined position via a mouse input device, and there is a problem that operability is poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mouse input device capable of easily capturing image information and the like, improving operability, and constructing a low-cost computer system.

[0010]

A mouse input device according to the present invention that achieves the above object is connected to a computer device in accordance with the USB standard, and includes a coordinate information input device and a CCD.
And an imaging unit. The mouse input device is
It is equipped with sound input means.

According to the mouse input device of the present invention configured as described above, an expensive imaging device such as a digital video camera or digital camera is not required, and a low-cost and simple system can be constructed. According to the mouse input device, desired image information and the like can be easily obtained by performing wide-range imaging by a simple moving operation, and operability can be improved by simultaneously performing a process of inserting the captured image information. Improvement will be achieved. According to the mouse input device, moreover, effective and useful information processing can be performed by collecting voice and sound in addition to imaging.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The mouse input device 1 shown as an embodiment is connected to a personal computer 20 based on the USB standard, and is connected to an X-
Construct a Y coordinate input device. The mouse input device 1 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the entire structure is substantially the same as that of a conventional general mouse input device, and a left click button 3 and a right click on the upper surface of the upper half 2a of the case body 2 composed of the upper half 2a and the base 2b. Button 4 is provided.

The mouse input device 1 is, as shown in FIG.
Inside the case body 2, an XY coordinate information detecting unit 5, an interface controller 6, a CCD camera 7, an image processing processor 8, a microphone 9, a sound processing processor 10, an input / output control unit 11, and the like are provided. The mouse input device 1 includes a connector (not shown) to which a USB-standard connector cable 21 is connected.

Although not shown, the mouse input device 1 is provided with a pair of click switches which are switched by a left click button 3 and a right click button 4, respectively. In the mouse input device 1, a concave portion 12 is formed on the upper surface of the upper half 2a at a position facing the left and right click buttons 3 and 4, as shown in FIG.
The imaging unit 7a of the D camera 7 is facing. The sound input hole 13 of the microphone 9 is formed on the upper surface of the upper half 2 a of the mouse input device 1 in the vicinity of the concave portion 12. Of course, the concave portion 12 and the sound collecting hole 13 are not limited to the positions shown in FIG.

The mouse input device 1 moves a mouse pointer, a cursor, or the like indicating a coordinate point on the screen displayed on the monitor to an appropriate position, performs a screen scroll operation, and displays image information, graphic information, and the like. It has the same function as a conventional mouse input device, such as designating an input range.
The mouse input device 1 has a function of capturing an appropriate image with the CCD camera 6 and capturing the image as image information.
The mouse input device 1 has a function of recording surrounding voice, sound, or the like simultaneously or independently of the imaging operation of the CCD camera 6, and taking in the sound as acoustic information. Mouse input device 1
As described above, multi-functionality is achieved as compared with the conventional mouse input device.

The mouse input device 1 is connected to a USB hub device 23 constituting a USB interface bus 22 of the personal computer 20 via a USB standard connector cable 21. The USB hub device 23 constructs a computer system centered on the personal computer 20 by connecting various peripheral devices such as a keyboard 24 and a printer 25 via a relay. As is well known, the USB hub device 23 is a personal computer 2
A USB up board connected to the USB down board on the 0 side, or a US connected to a connector cable of a peripheral device
A B-down board, a USB controller and the like are provided, and a commercial power supply is connected.

The XY coordinate information detecting section 5 is composed of a trackball, an encoder and the like provided in a conventional general mouse input device. Although not described in detail, the trackball protrudes from the opening formed in the base 2b at a part of the outer peripheral portion and is rotatably housed in the case body 2.
The encoder detects the amount and direction of rotation of the trackball and sends an output to the interface controller 6. When the mouse input device 1 is operated to move the surface of the desk or the like while holding the case body 2, the XY coordinate information detection unit 5 sends the trackball rotation amount information signal and the rotation direction information signal to the interface controller 6. Send out.

The XY coordinate information detecting unit 5 includes, for example, an LED.
It may be an optical type including a light source such as a laser or a semiconductor laser and a photodetector. The XY coordinate information detection unit 5 irradiates the grid pad with the light emitted from the LED from the opening formed in the base 2b, and detects the return light from the grid pad by the photodetector. The XY coordinate information detection unit 5 detects a change in the amount of return light due to the outgoing light passing through the grid mark of the grid pad with a photodetector, and converts the movement amount information signal and the movement direction information signal into an interface controller. Send to 6.

The interface controller 6 has a CP
U, which converts an analog XY coordinate information signal sent from an encoder or a photodetector into USB standard information and sends it to the input / output control unit 11.

As is well known, the CCD camera 7 includes an iris and a CCD element constituting a pixel in a lens barrel. The CCD camera 7 is configured as a pixel electric signal based on a light receiving state of each CCD element based on a captured image. It is sent to the processing processor 8. The CCD camera 7 is also provided with a zoom mechanism inside the lens barrel. The image processing processor 8 uses C
It is constituted by a PU, converts pixel electric signals sent from the CCD camera 7 into image information of USB standard, and sends them to the input / output control unit 11.

As the microphone 9, for example, a sound-collecting microphone is used. As described above, the microphone 9 captures the voice of the operator or the like and the surrounding sound in conjunction with or independent of the CCD camera 7. The sound processing processor 10 is configured by a CPU, converts an analog sound signal transmitted from the microphone 9 into USB standard information, and
Send to.

The input / output control unit 11 includes a CPU that controls the output of the above-described XY coordinate information, image information, and sound signals, and that receives a control signal from the personal computer 20 and controls the operation of each unit. The input / output control unit 11 includes a USB hub chip and a USB connector for transmitting and receiving USB information to and from the USB hub device 23.

The mouse input device 1 has been described so that the interface controller 6, the image processing processor 8, and the sound processing processor 10 are constituted by independent CPUs.
It is needless to say that it is constituted by a plurality of CPUs.

The mouse input device 1 configured as described above
In the setting state of the normal mode, when the case body 2 is gripped and the desk surface or the like is appropriately moved and operated, X
XY coordinate information is transmitted to the personal computer 20 via the Y coordinate information detecting unit 5-the interface controller 6-the input / output control unit 11. Mouse input device 1
Moves the cursor and mouse pointer displayed on the monitor. The mouse input device 1 transmits a predetermined control output signal to the personal computer 20 by clicking the left click button 3 or the right click button 4 at a predetermined designated position such as a cursor.

The mouse input device 1 switches from the setting of the normal mode to the setting of the imaging mode, for example, by clicking on a mode switching item displayed on the monitor. The mouse input device 1 is turned on by the power of the CCD camera 7 and the image processing processor 8 and the microphone 9 and the sound processing processor 10 according to the setting of the imaging mode, and enters a standby state in which the imaging operation and the sound collecting operation can be performed.

The mouse input device 1 has a left click button 3
Alternatively, by clicking the right click button 4, an appropriate subject is imaged by the CCD camera 7, and the captured image is displayed on a monitor. The mouse input device 1 displays a moving image on a monitor by continuously performing an imaging operation by the CCD camera 7. The mouse input device 1 causes sound to be transmitted together with the moving image from the speaker of the monitor. The mouse input device 1 transmits an image of an operator, necessary materials, and the like to the other party in a usage form such as a net meeting, and also enables explanation by voice and the like.

The mouse input device 1 adjusts a captured image displayed on a monitor by performing focus adjustment and zoom adjustment of the CCD camera 7 using, for example, a direction key of a keyboard. The mouse input device 1
By moving the cursor or the like, the captured image is displayed at an arbitrary position on the monitor, and the left click button 3
In addition, the synthesizing process is performed simultaneously by a click operation of the right-click button 4 or the right-click button 4. Processing of imaging information is performed in the same manner as processing of image information and graphic information in a conventional general image editing mode.

The operation of the mouse input device 1 described above is merely an example, and is not limited to this. Needless to say, the operation is appropriately performed by setting a program. In addition, various processes are performed on the captured image information captured by the mouse input device 1 and the recorded acoustic information, and the captured information is captured into an external storage device.

Although the mouse input device 1 has the microphone 9 and the audio processor 10 built in the case body 2, for example, when a desired function is sufficiently provided by a microphone or the like provided on the PC 20 side. , Need not be built-in. The mouse input device 1 incorporates the image processor 8 and the audio processor 10, but converts the image signal and the audio signal into USB standard information and sends them to the PC 20 via the USB hub device 23. The processing may be performed.

Although the mouse input device 1 has a built-in CPU having the functions of the interface controller 6, the image processor 8, and the sound processor 10, these processes may be performed on the personal computer 20 side. . In this case, the mouse input device 1 uses the X-Y coordinate information detected by the XY coordinate information detection unit 5.
The Y coordinate information, the captured image information captured by the CCD camera 7 or the acoustic information collected by the microphone 9 are converted into USB information in the USB hub chip and transmitted to the USB hub device 23.

[0031]

As described above in detail, according to the mouse input device of the present invention, the coordinate information input means and the CC
By mounting the D imaging means and the image processing means for performing signal processing on the imaging information, an inexpensive and simple system is constructed without the need for expensive imaging devices such as digital video cameras and digital cameras. According to the mouse input device, desired image information and the like can be easily obtained by performing wide-area imaging by the CCD imaging means by a simple moving operation, and the fitting process of the captured image information can be performed at the same time. Operability is improved.

Further, according to the mouse input device, the voice input means is mounted, so that the voice is collected together with the image pick-up by the CCD image pick-up means, thereby enabling more effective and useful information processing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mouse input device shown as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the mouse input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 mouse input device 2 case body 2a upper half 2b base 3 left click button 4 right click button 5 XY grounding information detection unit 6 interface controller 7 CCD camera 8 image processing processor 9 microphone 10 voice processing processor 11 output control unit 12 recess 13 sound collecting hole 20 personal computer 21 connector cable 22 USB interface bus 23 USB hub device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A mouse input device which is connected to a computer device in accordance with the USB standard, and is equipped with coordinate information input means and CCD image pickup means. 2. A mouse input device comprising sound input means.