JP2002157083A - Track ball device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a track ball device having structure capable of operating a ball easily not only from a surface of a small type mobile equipment but also from its reverse face. SOLUTION: The ball is held freely rotatable by elastically deformable members attached to an outer frame member for storing the ball to form vertical and lateral pairs, the ball is rotated thereby from the both upper and under faces of an equipment casing, rotational amounts of the ball along two orthogonal directions in the ball are detected by a rotation detecting roller provided to roll along the two directions orthogonal to the ball and to contact, the elastic member arranged in a side pushed by the ball is elastically deformed when the ball is pushed from anyside of the both upper and under faces of the equipment casing, and a switch mechanism actuated thereby is provided to conduct an enter operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a specific object (such as an icon or a menu name) displayed on a screen of a display device by rotating a rotatably supported ball by hand. To the position of
The present invention relates to a trackball device used as an input device for instructing the operation of the icon or menu.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional trackball apparatus, a ball and a push button are provided independently of each other. For this reason, the external size is increased by the amount of the push button, rotate the ball with the palm of the hand from the operation surface, move the mouse pointer to a specific target position on the display screen, and then press the push button with your fingertip. It was necessary to perform two operations of confirming. On the other hand, there is a trackball device that attempts to solve the above problem by performing a switch operation by pressing a ball. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
A switch which is activated when the bottom of the ball is placed in the hollow portion of the annular rubber packing and the ball is pressed downward along the axial direction passing through the center of the annular rubber packing, as shown in US Pat. A track ball device has been proposed in which a ball is integrated with a push button by providing the lower portion of an annular rubber packing.

[0003]

However, a conventional trackball device is, like a small notebook computer,
It is suitable for use on a desk where the bottom of the device is fixed, but it is thinner, smaller and lighter, such as a personal digital assistant or a mobile phone, and can be displayed with one hand. There is a problem that it is difficult to move the pointer above. The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an excellent trackball device having a structure capable of easily operating a trackball not only from the surface of a small portable device but also from the opposite surface. I do.

[0004]

To solve this problem, a trackball device according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises:
The operation portion of the ball is characterized in that it appears on both one surface and the opposite surface of the device housing for housing the ball.

[0005] With this configuration, the device is thin, small, and lightweight, and can be mounted on the device housing, and can be operated from both sides of the device housing while holding it with one hand.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a trackball apparatus having one end fixed to an outer frame member forming a space for accommodating the ball, and the other end extending vertically in a direction perpendicular to the outer frame member. An elastically deformable member that holds the ball so as to rotate freely in a pair on the left and right, and a rotation detecting roller provided so as to be in rolling contact with the ball in two directions perpendicular to the ball; When the operation portion is pressed from one surface of the device housing for housing the ball or the opposite surface, the member arranged on the side pressed by the ball is elastically deformed, and a switch mechanism operated by the member is elastically deformed. The outer frame member is provided.

[0007] With this configuration, the ball can be freely rotatably held in the thin device housing and can be operated from both sides, the amount of rotation of the ball in two directions perpendicular to each other can be detected, and the ball can be detected in the device housing. The definite operation can be performed by pressing the button from either of the upper and lower sides.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a trackball apparatus, wherein one end is fixed to an outer frame member forming a space for accommodating the ball, and the other end is vertically moved in a direction perpendicular to the other frame. A device housing for accommodating the ball, the member being configured to hold the ball freely rotatably in a pair on the left and right, and a rotation detecting roller provided to be in rolling contact with the ball in two directions perpendicular to the ball; A switch mechanism that is activated by the lateral movement of the trackball when the surfaces of the balls appearing on both one surface and the opposite surface are simultaneously pressed and laterally provided is provided on the inner wall surface of the outer frame member. It is characterized by the following.

With this configuration, the ball is freely rotatably held in the thin device housing, and the amount of rotation in two orthogonal directions is detected by rotating the ball from both the upper and lower surfaces of the device housing. The definitive operation can be performed by performing a click operation in the horizontal direction by sandwiching with a finger.

[0010]

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

FIG. 1 is an external view of a portable information terminal equipped with a trackball device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a front view of the portable information terminal, and FIG. () Is a side view of the portable information terminal.

In FIG. 1, a portable information terminal 1 includes a trackball device 2, a display device 3, and an operation key unit 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1A, a part of the surface of the ball 5 of the trackball device 2 appears in a circular hole surrounded by a circular member 2a. The operator can rotate the ball by touching the surface of the ball with a finger from the circular hole. On the other hand, when the portable information terminal 1 is viewed from the side, as shown in FIG.
In the trackball device 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention, a part of the surface of the ball 5 is exposed on both the front surface and the back surface of the portable information terminal 1. Therefore, the trackball device 2
Can be operated from the front surface of the portable information terminal 1, that is, the surface where the display device 3, the operation key unit 4, and the like are located, and at the same time, the ball can be touched from the back surface, and the operation can be performed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the trackball device 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a state in which no external force is applied to the ball 5.

A line passing right and left through the center point P extends along the X axis (X1-X
2), the axis passing through the center point P back and forth (perpendicular to the plane of the paper) is the Y axis, and the axis passing through the center point P up and down (X
Let the axis perpendicular to the axis be the Z axis (Z1-Z2) (the Y axis is not shown because it is perpendicular to the plane of the paper in which FIG. 2 is drawn).

As shown in FIG. 2, several pressure rollers (especially not shown) are used so that the center point Q of the ball 5 coincides with the center point P when no external force is applied. 5
Is rotatably supported. The holding member 8 and the holding member 9 are arranged such that the holding roller 6 and the rotation detecting roller 7 each having a rotation axis at a position equidistant from the center point P on the X axis (X1-X2) are in rolling contact with the ball 5. Attached to. The rotation detecting roller 7 is connected to X through its rotating shaft.
It is connected to a directional rotary encoder (in particular, not shown). Similarly, on the Y axis, a holding roller and a rotation detection roller each having a rotation axis at a position equidistant from the center point P with respect to the center point P are mounted in rolling contact with the ball 5, and the rotation detection roller has A Y-direction rotary encoder is connected. However, if these are shown in FIG. 2, the figure becomes complicated, so they are not particularly shown.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the holding member 8 and the holding member 9 are symmetrically arranged on the X, Y, and Z axes at an equal distance from the center point P. The holding member 8 and the holding member 9 have a pair of upper and lower switches 10 and 11 and a switch 1 respectively.
2, 13 are attached. Outer frame members 14 and 15 are connected to the holding member 8 and the holding member 9, respectively.

The outer frame member 14 includes a pair of upper and lower elastic members 1.
6, 17 are glued at one end and extend to the right parallel to the X axis and the other end is near the ball 5.

Similarly, a pair of upper and lower elastic members 18 and 19 are bonded to the outer frame member 15 at one end thereof.
The other end extends to the left parallel to the X axis and is near the ball 5. When no external force is applied to the ball 5, the elastic members 16 and 17 maintain a linear state, and therefore, the elastic members 16 and 17 are connected to the switch 1 attached to the holding member 8.
0 and 11 are pressed. Similarly, the elastic members 18 and 19 also maintain a linear state, and the switches 12 and 13 attached to the holding member 9 are in a pressed state.

Next, the operation when the ball 5 is rotated will be described. The operator places the ball 5 from above, that is,
When the user touches the portion between the elastic members 16 and 18 or the lower portion, that is, the portion between the elastic members 17 and 19 and rotates around the Y axis (in the direction of arrow A), the X axis Direction detection roller 7 is driven to rotate,
An X-direction rotary encoder (in particular, not shown) detects the rotation angle. This rotation angle is converted into the amount of movement of the pointer on the screen of the display device 3 in the X direction.

When the operator rotates the ball 5 around the X axis, the rotation detecting roller in the Y axis direction follows and rotates.
The rotation angle is detected by a Y-direction rotary encoder. This rotation angle is indicated by the pointer Y on the screen of the display device 3.
It is converted to the amount of movement in the direction.

When the rotation direction of the ball 5 has both X and Y axis components, the rotation detecting rollers for both X and Y axes rotate simultaneously, and the rotary encoders for X and Y axes rotate in each direction. Detect the rotation angle.

The rotation angle in each direction is converted into the amount of movement of the pointer on the screen of the display device 3 in the X and Y directions. Move to position.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the determination operation of the trackball device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
(A) is a figure showing the state where the operator pressed down ball 5 from the top to the bottom. On the other hand, FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the operator has pressed the ball 5 from below to above.

Next, in FIG. 3, by rotating the ball 5 of the trackball device 2, the mouse pointer on the screen of the display device 3 is moved to the position of a desired specific object (icon, menu name, etc.). A description will be given of a case where the operation of a specific target (such as an icon or a menu name) at that position is determined.

In FIG. 3A, when the operator pushes the ball 5 downward (arrow B), the ball 5 moves downward while contacting the elastic members 17 and 19, and the center point of the ball 5 is It comes to the position Q from the center point P. Since one of the elastic member 17 and the elastic member 19 is fixed to the outer frame member 14 and the outer frame member 15, respectively, the downward movement of the ball 5 causes the elastic member 17 and the elastic member 19 to gently move from their fixed portions. It is in an elastically deformed state. The ball 5 stops at a position where it is stopped by the pressure roller (particularly, not shown).

In this state, the switches 11 and 13 attached to the holding members 8 and 9 are released from the state of being pressed by the elastic members 17 and 19, and
The movable stroke portions 11a and 13a of the first and the 13 are in an extended state. Accordingly, a change in the state of the switches 11 and 13 occurs, and this can be detected as a change in the electric signal, so that the trackball device is determined. Ball 5
When you let go of the ball, the center of the ball 5 moves from the position Q to the center point P.
Return to

As shown in FIG. 3B, when the operator pushes the ball 5 upward (arrow C), the ball 5
And move upward while contacting the elastic member 18.

This time, the elastic members 16 and 18 are elastically deformed, and the switches 10 and 12 change their state, so that they can be detected as electric signal changes.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the internal structure of a trackball device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A shows a state in which no external force is applied to the ball 20.

A line passing right and left through the center point P extends along the X axis (X1-X
2), the axis passing through the center point P back and forth (perpendicular to the plane of the paper) is the Y axis, and the axis passing through the center point P up and down (X
Let the axis perpendicular to the axis be the Z axis (Z1-Z2) (the Y axis is not shown because it is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in which FIG. 4 is drawn).

As shown in FIG. 4 (a), when no external force is applied, several pressure rollers can rotate the ball 20 so that the center point Q of the ball 20 coincides with the center point P. (In particular, not shown). The switch 21 is attached to the holding member 22 such that the tip of the movable portion 21a of the switch 21 is located near the position where the X axis (X1-X2) extending to the left from the center point P intersects the surface of the ball 20. ing. On the other hand, the X-axis (X
1-X2) is in rolling contact with the rotation detecting roller 24 attached to the holding member 23 at a position where it intersects the surface of the ball 20. The rotation detecting roller 24 is connected to an X-direction rotary encoder (in particular, not shown) via its rotation shaft.

On the other hand, similarly in the Y-axis direction, the tip of the movable portion of the switch is located near the position where the Y-axis extending forward (or rearward) perpendicularly to the paper from the center point P intersects the surface of the ball 20. Is attached to the holding member. On the other hand, at a position where the Y axis extending rearward (or forward) perpendicularly to the paper from the center point P intersects the surface of the ball 20, the roller is in rolling contact with the rotation detecting roller attached to the holding member. The rotation detecting roller is connected to a Y-direction rotary encoder via its rotation shaft. Note that the configuration in the Y-axis direction is not particularly shown in FIG. 4 because the configuration is complicated.

As shown in FIG. 4A, outer frame members 25 and 26 are connected to the holding members 22 and 23, respectively. The outer frame member 25 has a pair of upper and lower holding members 27, 2
8 is glued at one end and extends to the right parallel to the X axis and the other end is near the ball 20. Similarly, a pair of upper and lower holding members 29 and 30 are adhered to the outer frame member 26 at one end thereof, extend to the left parallel to the X axis, and the other end is near the ball 20. The holding members 27 and 28 and the holding members 29 and 30, together with several pressure rollers (especially not shown), prevent the ball 5 from coming outside.

The rotation of the ball 20 can be performed from both sides of the portable information terminal 1 as in the case described with reference to FIG. The holding members 27 and 28 and the holding members 29 and 30
Need not be an elastic member as in the first embodiment.

Next, the determination operation of the trackball device is performed as follows.

As shown in FIG. 4B, when the operator moves the ball 5 to the left from both the upper part and the lower part of the ball 20 with his / her finger, the surface of the ball 20 is
Contact with the movable stroke portion 21a of the
Moves from the center point P to the position Q. As a result, the movable stroke portion 21a retracts to the left, and a change in the state of the switch 21 occurs, which can be detected as a change in the electrical signal.

Thus, the trackball device is determined. In FIG. 4B, the same switch operation may be performed by sandwiching the ball 5 between the fingers and pushing forward (or backward) in the Y-axis direction.

[0039]

As described above, in the trackball device according to the present invention, the ball can be freely held even in a thin device housing, and the amount of rotation of the ball in two orthogonal directions can be detected. In addition, the ball can be depressed from both the upper and lower surfaces of the device housing to perform the definite operation.

The ball is freely rotatably held in a thin device housing, and the ball is sandwiched between upper and lower surfaces of the device housing with a finger and rotated to detect the amount of rotation in two orthogonal directions. The definite operation can be easily performed by performing a click operation in the horizontal direction by sandwiching the finger from both the upper and lower surfaces.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a portable information terminal equipped with a trackball device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal structure of the trackball device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a determination operation of the trackball device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an internal structure of a trackball device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 portable information terminal 2 trackball device 3 display device 4 operation key unit 5, 20 ball 6 holding roller 7, 24 rotation detecting roller 8, 9, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30 holding member 10, 11, 12, 13, 21 Switch 14, 15, 25, 26 Outer frame member 16, 17, 18, 19 Elastic member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A trackball device, wherein an operation portion of a ball appears on both one surface and the opposite surface of an equipment housing for housing the ball. 2. An outer frame member forming a space for accommodating the ball, one end of which is fixed to the outer frame member, and the other end of the outer frame member holds the ball so as to be rotatable in a pair perpendicularly and vertically and horizontally. An elastic member capable of being elastically deformed, and a rotation detecting roller provided so as to be in rolling contact with the ball in two directions orthogonal to each other. The elastic member disposed on the side pressed by the ball is elastically deformed when pressed from one surface or the opposite surface, and the outer frame member is provided with a switch mechanism operated by the elastic member. Item 2. The trackball device according to item 1. 3. An outer frame member forming a space for accommodating the ball, one end of which is fixed to the outer frame member, and the other end of the outer frame member rotatably holds the ball in a pair perpendicularly and vertically and horizontally. And a rotation detecting roller provided so as to be in rolling contact with the ball in two directions perpendicular to the ball, and appear on both one surface and the opposite surface of the device housing for housing the ball. 2. The trackball device according to claim 1, wherein a switch mechanism that is activated by the trackball when the operating portion of the ball is simultaneously pressed and pushed laterally is provided on the inner wall surface of the outer frame member.