JP2002032190A - Pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small pointing device which can be incorporated in a personal computer and a portable telephone set and whose operability is good. SOLUTION: A moving object which incorporates a secondary coil is arranged so that it can freely slide on a sliding board incorporating a primary coil and having a sliding face on an upper face within a constant movable range. A detecting means operating when the moving object reaches the trailing end of the sliding face by the pointing device moving a pointer on a display screen by the sliding of the moving object is arranged. Thus, a detection signal advances the pointer much more even if the moving object reaches the trailing end of the sliding face and it cannot move.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointing device which is one of information input devices such as a personal computer, a CAD and a mobile phone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional pointing device will be described with reference to FIG. The conventional pointing device controls the movement of a pointer on a display screen by freely moving a moving body 31 on a sliding surface 2A provided on an upper surface of a sliding plate 2 as shown in FIG. .

Next, a specific configuration of a conventional pointing device will be described. A plurality of primary coils 2C are arranged vertically and horizontally inside the sliding plate 2, and a spiral or spiral secondary coil 31C is built inside the moving body 31.

The operation of the conventional pointing device configured as described above will be described. When a current is applied to the primary coil 2C built in the sliding plate 2, a magnetic field is generated in each primary coil 2C, and a magnetic field is formed on the sliding surface 2A. When the moving body 31 with the built-in secondary coil 31C is arranged in this magnetic field, the secondary coil 31C is induced by the magnetic field, and a current is generated in the secondary coil 31C. A magnetic field. This signal is received by a plurality of primary coils 2C built in the sliding plate 2 to specify the position of the moving body 31 on the sliding surface 2A. According to such a principle, the pointer on the display screen is moved and controlled by sliding the moving body 31 on the sliding surface 2A.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional pointing device, since the sliding surface 2A slides within the limited range of the sliding surface 2A, when the moving member 31 reaches the end of the sliding surface 2A. , The pointer cannot be advanced any further. Accordingly, the moving body 31 is once lifted, moved to the vicinity of the center of the sliding surface 2A, and then re-landed, thereby performing the moving operation again. For this reason, the operability was poor and the work efficiency was low. In addition, since it is necessary to lift the moving body at any time, the shape of the moving body must be formed in a limited shape such as a pen type or a mouse type, and it is difficult to make the moving body thin and small. In addition, the mobile unit cannot be permanently installed on the slide surface, and it is difficult to mount the mobile unit in a notebook computer or a small device.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has a primary coil built-in and a secondary coil built in a sliding plate having a sliding surface on an upper surface. A pointing device that is arranged so that the moving body can slide freely within a certain movable range, and moves the pointer on the display screen by sliding the moving body on the sliding surface. By providing a detecting means which operates when the pointer reaches, the pointer can be further moved by a detection signal of the detecting means.

This eliminates the need to lift and move the moving body when moving the pointer on the display screen, thereby enabling the moving body to be made small and thin.
Since the moving object can be permanently installed on the slide surface, a small-sized and easy-to-operate pointing device that can be built in a notebook computer, a remote control transmitter, or the like can be provided.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A pointing device according to a first aspect of the present invention has a moving body having a primary coil built-in and a secondary coil built in on a sliding plate having a sliding surface on an upper surface. The moving device slides on the sliding surface and is operated when the moving object reaches the end of the sliding surface by a pointing device that moves the pointer on the display screen by sliding the sliding surface within the movable range of the moving object. By providing the detecting means, even if the moving body reaches the end of the sliding surface and the moving body can no longer move, the detecting means generates an electric signal, and the electric signal further moves the pointer on the display screen. It has the action of:

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first aspect, a switch or a pressure detecting element is provided at an end portion of the sliding plate as a detecting means so that the moving body reaches the end of the sliding surface. As described above, even if the moving body cannot move, an electric signal is generated by the switch or the pressure detecting element, and the pointer on the display screen is further moved by the electric signal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a switch or a pressure sensing element is provided on the moving body as a detecting means, so that the moving body reaches the end of the sliding surface, and the moving body further extends. Even if cannot be moved, an electric signal is generated by the switch or the pressure detecting element, and the electric signal further moves the pointer on the display screen.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, a signal indicating that the moving body has reached the end of the movable range is generated, so that the operator can move the moving body to the end of the sliding surface. It has the effect of notifying that it has been reached.

Next, a specific embodiment of the pointing device of the present invention will be described. 1 to 4 are views showing a pointing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The pointing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be externally attached to a personal computer or the like, and is a pointing device for controlling a pointer on a display screen of a personal computer or the like.

First, a pointing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The principle and configuration for controlling the movement of the pointer on the display screen by moving the plane in the plane are the same as those of the conventional pointing device shown in FIG.

First, referring to FIG. 1, the structure of a pointing device of a moving object 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Running surface 2A provided on top of sliding plate 2
The fixing switch buttons 1B and 1C are provided on the upper part of the moving body 1. Although two confirmation switch buttons may be provided as shown in FIG. 1, in many cases, one to three confirmation switch buttons are provided by a computer function. There may be no case.

7 is a detection switch, 7A is a detection switch 7
There is a drive lever for driving the. The detection switch is configured by a micro switch or the like. 3, 4,
Reference numerals 5 and 6 denote actuators for driving the detection switch 7 by pressing. The detection switch 7 and the actuators 3, 4, 5, and 6 are provided around the running surface 2A in the front, rear, left, and right directions, respectively. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the pointing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Next, the first embodiment of the present invention constructed as described above will be described.
The operation of the pointing device according to the embodiment will be described. By moving the moving body 1 on the slide surface 2A in FIG. 2, the pointer on the display screen can be freely moved and controlled. However, when the moving body 1 reaches the end of the sliding surface 2A, the moving body 1
Becomes a dead end and cannot slide. Then, when the moving body 1 is further pushed in the advancing direction a, the detection switch 7 is pressed via the actuator 3 to be turned on, and the pointer on the display screen is continuously or intermittently moved at a constant speed in a desired direction. Becomes possible. The same operation as in the direction a can be performed in each of the directions b, c, and d shown in FIG.

The operation of moving the pointer with the detection switch is only a rough operation, and the fine control of the pointer can be performed by the sliding operation on the sliding surface 2A of the moving body 1.

Further, the pointing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention raises the moving body 1 to lift the sliding surface 2A.
Has a handle 1D at the upper central portion of the moving body 1 so that the moving body 1 can be slid and slid again and the pointer can be moved again.

The detection switch 7 and the actuator 3,
4, 5 and 6 are provided on the front and rear and left and right of the sliding surface 2A, and move the moving body 1 back and forth and right and left,
It is configured to operate only when pushed through 5, 6.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the moving body 1 of the pointing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is operated with a finger. In this way, two fingers are set with the confirmation switch buttons 1B, 1
It is placed on C and the mobile unit 1 is slid.
In addition, the confirmation switch button can be pressed as required to activate the confirmation switch.

The decision switch buttons 1B and 1C have the same function as the decision switch buttons of a general computer mouse, and are pressed to turn on the decision switch when the pointer on the display screen reaches a target position. is there.

The detection switch 7 used in the pointing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention uses a mechanical switch such as a micro switch.
An optical switch such as a photo interrupter can be used.

The pointing devices according to the second and third embodiments of the present invention described below are similar to the pointing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Is omitted.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a pointing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a pressure detecting element. The pressure sensing element 10 changes its electric resistance value by receiving a pressure from the outside, generates a voltage change by this change of the electric resistance value, and extracts it as an electric signal. As described above, the pressure detecting element 10 is connected to the sliding surface 2A.
Are provided on the front, rear, left and right of the actuator, so that pressure can be applied via the actuators 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Next, the operation of the pointing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. When the moving body 1 reaches the end of the sliding surface 2A, the pressure sensing element 10 is pressed via the actuator 3 in the direction a. The pressure detecting element 10 generates an electric signal, and the pointer on the display screen can move in the same direction as the pressing direction.

The speed of the movement of the pointer on the display screen can be changed by changing the level of the electric signal according to the intensity of the pressure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a pointing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the pointing device according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

A pressure sensing element 13 is provided in the vicinity of the running surface 2A, and two actuators 11 and 12 are provided which can freely rotate about respective rotation center axes 14 and 15. Lock holes 11C and 11C of the actuators 11 and 12 are provided. The pressure detecting element 13 is locked at 12C so that pressure can be applied.

The pressure detecting element 13 generates an electric signal in each direction when pressure is applied from front, rear, left and right.

Next, the operation of the pointing device according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. When the moving body 1 reaches the end of the sliding surface 2A, the moving body 1 presses the pressure receiving portion 11A of the actuator 11 and attempts to rotate the actuator 11 about the rotation center axis 14 in the direction b. At this time, the locking hole 1 provided in the actuator 11
The pressure detecting element 13 is pressed in the direction c by 1C. As a result, the pressure sensing element 13 generates an electric signal in the pressed direction, and the pointer on the display screen can be controlled to move in the same direction as the pressed direction.

As described above, the pressure applied to the pressure detecting element 13 is applied to the pressure receiving portions 11A and 11A of the actuators 11 and 12, respectively.
This is performed when the moving body 1 comes into contact with and presses the 11B, 12A, and 12B, and generates an electric signal in each direction to move the pointer on the display screen in the same direction as the pressing direction. .

In the first to third embodiments of the present invention, if the sliding space of the moving body is eliminated, the movement of the pointer on the display screen can be controlled only by the detection switch or the pressure detection element.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a pointing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
The configuration and operation of the pointing device according to the embodiment will be described. The pointing device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention includes detection switch buttons 22, 23 on front, rear, left and right of a moving body 21 in the shape of a computer mouse.
24 and 25 are provided.

With this configuration, the moving body 1 is slid on the sliding surface 2A surrounded by the frame 2B, so that the detection switch buttons 22, 23, 2
By pressing and operating any of the buttons 4 and 25, the pointer on the display screen can be moved.

The pointing device according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention has a configuration in which detection switches or pressure detection elements are provided on the front, rear, left and right sides of the sliding surface 1A.
A detection switch or a pressure detection element may be provided on the front, rear, left and right of the moving body 1.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a notebook personal computer equipped with a pointing device according to any one of the first to third embodiments of the present invention. As described above, according to the present invention, a personal computer is handy and operability is improved by being incorporated in a notebook personal computer or the like.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a portable telephone equipped with any one of the pointing devices according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention. The moving body 41 can slide freely in the frame 43 and can move and control the pointer on the display screen. An actuator 42 is provided on the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the sliding surface, and is used to move a detection switch or a pressure detection element.

When the moving body 41 hits the actuator 42, the detection switch or the pressure detection element is operated to move the pointer. Reference numeral 41A denotes an enter switch button, which is arbitrarily pressed according to the position of the pointer on the display screen to execute an enter operation.

In the case of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 9, the pointing device of the present invention is provided at the lower portion of the front display screen. However, the pointing device of the present invention may be provided at the back or side of the mobile phone. good.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is detected that the moving object slid on the sliding surface reaches the end within the movable range and the end is detected, and the pointer on the display screen is further moved. Because it can be moved, it is not necessary to perform the troublesome act of levitating the moving body and returning it near the center of the movable range and sliding again as usual, and greatly improving the operability as a pointing device Is now available. As a result, the operability is equal to or higher than that of a conventional computer mouse, and the efficiency of work and operation can be significantly improved.

Further, since the function of returning the moving body to the center, that is, the function of floating the moving body from the slide surface can be eliminated, the size and thickness can be further reduced. As a result, it can be installed in a handy type notebook computer in a small space, and the size of the personal computer can be reduced.

When used as a pointing device of a mobile phone, when inputting characters, as shown in FIG. 9, 50 letters or alphanumeric characters are displayed on the display screen, the pointer is moved to select a character, and the confirmation switch is set. Since a character can be confirmed by pressing with a button, information input such as character input can be performed quickly and easily.

When the pointing device of the present invention is mounted on a personal computer as shown in FIG. 8, a series of operations of keyboard operation, sliding operation of the moving body of the pointing device of the present invention, and operation of the decision switch button are performed by the thumb. Since all the personal computer operations can be performed without changing the posture of both hands that operate the keyboard, the operability is extremely good and the workability can be improved.

The sliding operation of the moving body of the pointing device of the present invention and the operation functions of the detection switch and the pressure detection element can be used not only for moving the pointer but also for scrolling the screen of an Internet homepage or the like or the screen of a mobile phone. Things.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a pointing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an operation of the pointing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the pointing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view showing a state in which a moving body of the pointing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is operated with a finger;

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a pointing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a pointing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a pointing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the pointing device according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention is mounted on a notebook personal computer.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the pointing device according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention is mounted on a mobile phone.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional pointing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Moving body 1A Lower surface 1B, 1C Confirmation switch button 1D Handle 2 Glide board 2A Glide surface 2B Frame 2C Primary coil 3, 4, 5, 6 Actuator 7 Detector switch 7A Drive lever 10, 13 Pressure sensing element 11, 12 Actuator 11A , 11B, 12A, 12B Pressure receiving part 14, 15 Rotation center axis 21 Moving body 22, 23, 24, 25 Detection switch button 26 Confirmation switch button 31 Moving body 31A Confirmation switch button 31C Secondary coil 41 Moving body 41A Confirmation switch button 42 Actuator 43 frame

Claims (4)

[Claims] A moving body having a secondary coil built therein is disposed on a sliding plate having a primary coil and having a sliding surface on an upper surface so that the moving body can freely slide within a predetermined movable range. A pointing device for moving a pointer on a display screen as the body slides on a slide surface, the detection device being provided with a detection means that operates when the movable body reaches the end of the slide surface. 2. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein a switch or a pressure detecting element is provided at an end portion of the slide plate as a detecting means. 3. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein a switch or a pressure detecting element is provided on the moving body as detecting means. 4. A signal for notifying that the moving body has reached the end of the movable range.
4. The pointing device according to any one of items 3 to 3.