JP2002182845A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device which can be manufactured by space saving, easily recognizes an operation conducted by an operator himself/herself by using hands, fingers, etc., as physical distance information and position information and with which the operator can move a pointer on the screen at a long distance with a small number of operating times in the input device used as a pointing device for a personal computer, etc. SOLUTION: This input device used as the pointing device that generates a control signal for freely moving a pointer displayed on the screen, is provided with an input plate capable of horizontally moving a range up to a mechanical limit position in X and Y directions, a moving quantity detecting means for detecting the moving quantity of the input plate, an origin returning mechanism for returning the input plate to the original position, an operation discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the operator is touching the input plate, and a control signal generating means for generating the control signal corresponding to the moving quantity of the input plate from information obtained from the moving quantity detecting means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device, such as a mouse, used as a pointing device for inputting information such as position, direction, and angle to an information processing device such as a personal computer. By providing an input plate that can be freely moved in any direction, the operability is improved and the space is saved, so that the input can be incorporated into a device such as a laptop personal computer that has a small space. It concerns the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an input device having a configuration shown in FIGS. The input device shown in FIG. 10 is a device commonly called a mouse. here,
FIG. 1A is a main configuration diagram of a personal computer, FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a single unit of the mouse 30, and FIG. 1C is a schematic configuration diagram of the mouse 30.

In FIG. 1, a mouse 30 is connected to a computer 20 or a keyboard 21 via a signal cable 33. The mouse 30 is provided with a left-click button 31 and a right-click button 32 at the front of the operation surface. By pressing these buttons, an operation signal such as a command to execute a program is transmitted to the computer 20.

A sphere 34 is rotatably provided inside the mouse 30. When the mouse 30 moves, the sphere 34 rotates, and the degree and direction of the rotation are determined by the amount of movement in the X direction. The pointer 23 on the screen of the display device 22 is detected by the detection sensor 35 and the Y-direction movement amount detection sensor 36, and the pointer movement command signal determined therefrom is transmitted to the computer 20.
It can be moved to a position corresponding to the movement direction of 0.

Therefore, the mouse 30 and the pointer 23 on the screen of the display device 22 interact with each other. When the mouse 30 moves greatly, the pointer 23 also moves greatly, and the mouse 3 moves.
When 0 moves small, the pointer 23 also moves small.
Further, the mouse 30 is moved to move the pointer 23 to the display device 22.
By moving the mouse over the icon 24 displayed on the screen and pressing the left click button 31 of the mouse 30 once (hereinafter referred to as a single click), the icon 24 can be selected.

Further, by pressing the left click button 31 twice continuously with the pointer 23 superimposed on the icon 24 (hereinafter referred to as "double click"), the program corresponding to the icon 24 is executed. Is possible.

The mouse 30 described above is mainly used when there is a sufficient flat work space, such as the desktop computer 20, and the operator can grasp the mouse 30 by hand and move it largely on a horizontal plane. There is a merit that you can easily experience your own operation.

The input device shown in FIG. 11 is a device commonly called a trackball. This is the mouse 30
Is turned upside down and installed on the outer shell surface of the notebook personal computer 42 or the like, and the degree and direction of rotation of the rotatable sphere 41 are determined in the same manner as the mouse 30 by the X-direction movement amount detection sensor ( (Not shown) and a Y-direction movement amount detection sensor (not shown). By transmitting a pointer movement command signal calculated from these to the computer 42, the pointer 44 on the screen of the display device 43 is moved. , Can be moved to a position corresponding to the moving direction of the sphere 41. It is used when there is not enough space, and is often used for notebook personal computers and the like.

The input device shown in FIG. 12 is a device commonly called AccuPoint. This is a rod-like object 51
And 52 is a device for inputting operation information using the same. This input device can be roughly divided into a device in which a rod hardly moves, as in the device shown in FIG. 3A, and a device in which the rod is connected to a joint portion 53, which is a root, as in the device shown in FIG. There are two types of objects that move freely back and forth and left and right on the axis. The former mainly detects the input force as operation information, outputs a signal, and finally converts the signal into a position signal or the like. It is often used in notebook computers because it requires little space. Since the stick hardly moves, no space is required, and it can be used, for example, between keys. The latter detects that the rod has fallen or the angle at which the rod has fallen and converts it into position information or the like. Although it requires space, it is excellent in that the operator can feel his or her operation amount by moving his hand.

The input device shown in FIG. 13 is a device utilizing a button-shaped object 61. The operator inclines the button-shaped object 61 obliquely, detects the angle as operation information,
Convert to a position signal, etc. It is similar in principle to FIG. 8B, but the shape of the device is different.

The input device shown in FIG. 14 is a device commonly called a touch pad. Using the fixed pad 71, the pad 71 itself is not moved, and the place or movement direction of the finger or the like is detected using, for example, a change in resistance or capacitance, and the place or movement of the finger or the like is detected. Convert to a position signal such as direction.

[0012]

[0003] Humans recognize external information through various sensory organs. When operating an information processing device such as a computer, the eyes usually play an important role, but using other feelings improves workability.

From this point of view, it is important for the operator to feed back his or her own operation amount using the senses other than the eyes when considering the man-machine interface with the position input device of the pointer on the screen. When performing position input using a hand or a finger, considering feedback of the operation amount through the hand or the finger, a. No movement of hand and input device. I. The hand moves, but the input device does not move. C) The hand and the input device move together. Are roughly divided into A. The feedback of the manipulated value mainly depends on the pressure. I. The feedback of the operation amount mainly depends on the moving distance. C. Is accompanied by the feeling of moving an object along with the distance traveled. The types of information to be fed back increase in the order of a <i <c, which leads to improvement in workability. For this reason, it is important that the input device physically moves in accordance with the operation of the worker.

When the moving distance of the pointer on the screen is very small, the operation amount of the input device is minute, and when the moving distance is long, the operation amount is increased. Is improved. When the pointer on the screen is moved at a stretch, it is important to increase the amount of operation and reduce the number of operations.

A mouse is currently the best in terms of an input device that allows the operator to easily feel his or her operation amount. However, in a position input device of a device requiring space saving such as a notebook computer, usable position input devices are limited. In recent years, a computer has a graphical user interface (GU).
I) is frequently used. Therefore, the frequency of using the position input device is dramatically increased as compared with the case where the GUI is not used. Therefore, it is important that the operator is hard to be tired even if the position input device is used for a long time.

The input device described with reference to FIG. 10 requires a large work space because the input device is gripped by hand, and it is difficult to integrate the input device into a notebook computer. If you want to move the pointer on the screen for a long distance, you need to move the mouse for a long distance. If the work space is large, it is good, but if it is small, there is a problem that the mouse must be moved many times.

In the input device described with reference to FIG. 11, it is necessary to enlarge the sphere in order to improve the operability, and a slightly larger space is required, although not as much as a mouse. When incorporated into a notebook computer or the like, the sphere must be made smaller, and it is difficult to sense movement and the operability is poor. Further, there is a problem when the pointer on the screen is to be largely moved (for example, when the pointer is moved from the right end to the left end of the screen). Since there is no input limit, it is necessary to rotate the sphere many times in the same rotation direction (in small increments), and there is a problem that the operator is easily tired.

In the input device described with reference to FIG. 12A, if the input device detects a force applied to a rod as an operation amount, positional information is not returned to the operator's hand. There is a problem. The operator feeds back the pressure returned to the finger or the like as a main operation amount. When receiving the strength of pressure as the feedback amount and receiving the moving distance like a mouse, it is more difficult for the pressure to recognize the operation amount. This is supported by the fact that a distance-recognition-type mouse has a higher usage record than an input device of this type when there are no restrictions on the use conditions of the input device.

With the input device described with reference to FIG. 12B, when the length of the rod is long, the distance information is fed back to the hand, so that the operation is easy. However, it is difficult to select when space is limited, such as in a notebook computer. If the length of the rod is shortened, a small angle must be operated, and there is a problem that workability deteriorates.

The input device described with reference to FIG. 13 has a problem that the workability is poor because it is necessary to operate a small angle as in the case of the short rod shown in FIG. 12B. There is a point.

In the input device described with reference to FIG. 14, since the finger is swollen, there is a difference between the part actually touching the pad and the part that the operator wants to point to. There are many, and it is hard to get used to.
Since the input device does not move with the movement of the finger, the operation feeling is poor.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems. In an input device used for a personal computer or the like, it is possible to manufacture the input device in a space-saving manner, and to realize that an operator has operated himself / herself with his / her hand or finger. It is another object of the present invention to provide an input device which can be easily recognized as physical distance information or position information and can move a pointer on a screen over a long distance with a small number of operations.

[0023]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pointing device which generates a control signal for freely moving a pointer displayed on a screen. An input plate capable of horizontally moving a range up to a mechanical limit position in an X direction and a Y direction; movement amount detecting means for detecting a movement amount of the input plate; Origin return mechanism for returning the input plate to the origin position, operation identification means for identifying whether or not the operator is touching the input plate, and movement of the input plate from information obtained from the movement amount detection means. A control signal generating means for generating the control signal corresponding to the quantity is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the moving amount detecting means includes a position detecting means for detecting a position of the input plate, and a change in the position obtained here. , The amount of movement of the input plate is detected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the moving amount of the input plate is at least one of a moving direction, a moving amount, a moving vector, a moving speed, and a moving acceleration of the input plate. Or is included.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the position detecting means includes an optical sensor for detecting a moving amount of the input plate in the X-axis direction and a moving amount in the Y-axis direction. It is characterized by having been constituted.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the position detecting means includes an X-axis rotator rotating on the bottom surface of the input plate by an X-axis direction movement and a Y-axis direction rotating body. It is characterized by comprising a Y-axis rotating body that rotates by movement, and a rotation amount detection sensor that detects the amount of movement of the input plate based on the amount of rotation of the X-axis rotating body and the Y-axis rotating body.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the movement amount detecting means includes a limit position detecting means for detecting that the input plate has reached the mechanical limit position. It is characterized by having.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the operation identifying means is constituted by an optical sensor or a mechanical switch for detecting a submersion generated when the input plate moves. It is characterized by having been done.

According to the invention described in claim 8, in the invention described in claim 1, the movement amount detecting means divides the vertical movement amount of the input plate into one or a plurality of depths. A sensor for Z-axis to be detected is provided, and the control signal generating means is configured to output a command corresponding to the depth of each step detected by the Z-axis sensor. .

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control signal generating means is configured such that the input plate reaches the movement limit by the limit position detecting means and is fixed at this position. When the state continues for a predetermined time, the pointer movement command signal for further moving the pointer in the direction in which the pointer movement direction is extended is continuously output.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the continuously output pointer movement command signal is configured such that an output interval changes according to a fixed time of the input plate. It is characterized by having.

In the eleventh aspect, in the first aspect, when the operator moves the input plate in a horizontal direction, the origin return mechanism is proportional to the displacement of the input plate. A repulsive force generating means for generating a repulsive force is provided.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the origin return mechanism generates a first repulsive force when the input plate is near the origin position, and When the plate is near the limit position,
A non-linear repulsive force generating means for generating a second repulsive force stronger than the first repulsive force is provided.

According to the thirteenth aspect, in the twelfth aspect,
In the invention described in (1), the control signal generating means outputs a pointer movement command signal for moving the pointer further in the direction in which the moving direction of the pointer is extended while the second repulsive force is being generated. It is characterized by having been constituted so that.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the input plate is provided on an outer shell surface of the input device or inside the outer shell. .

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the input plate is characterized in that a surface thereof is subjected to a non-slip processing.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the control signal generating means transmits the pointer movement command signal when the input plate returns to the origin by the origin returning means. It is characterized in that it is configured not to output.

[0039]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an input device according to the present invention, and FIG. 1A is an external view when an input device 10 according to the present invention is incorporated in a notebook personal computer 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view when the input device 10 is viewed from below, and FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view when cut along a dashed line AB in FIG.

In FIG. 1A, a cutout 2 is provided on the upper surface of the outer shell 16 of the notebook personal computer, from which the input plate 11 of the input device 10 according to the present invention is exposed on the outer shell surface. I have. An operator can move the pointer 3 to an arbitrary position on the screen by moving the input plate 11 in the same direction as the direction in which the pointer 3 displayed on the screen is desired to be moved.

The input plate 11 can be freely moved by a worker to a mechanical limit position in a horizontal direction by a finger or the like, and can be moved in a plurality of steps in a vertical direction.

Further, on the surface of the input plate 11,
Non-slip processing having an uneven structure is performed, and mesh processing for reading an optical sensor is performed on a side surface and a back surface.

In FIG. 1B, below the input plate 11, as shown in FIG.
X-direction movement amount detection sensor s for detecting the amount of movement in the X-direction
x and Y for detecting the amount of movement of the input plate 11 in the Y direction
A direction movement amount detection sensor sy is provided.

Further, below the input plate 11, a Z for detecting the amount of movement of the input plate 11 in the vertical direction in a stepwise manner.
A direction movement amount detection sensor sz is provided.

Further, an elastic body 13 is attached to each side surface of the input plate 11 to return the input plate 11 moved by a worker with a finger or the like to the origin.

The input device is provided with a plurality of limit switches 14 for detecting that the input plate 11 has reached the mechanical limit position 12.

The operation when the pointer displayed at the point α on the screen 5 is moved to the point β by the input device having the structure described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
2A is an external view similar to FIG. 1A, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1C, and FIG.
FIG. 2C is a plan view similar to FIG. FIG. 2
In (c), the notation of the elastic body 13 is omitted for easy understanding of the drawing.

In FIG. 2A, the operator first touches the input plate 11 with a finger to move the pointer 3 displayed at the α point on the screen 5 to the β point using the input plate 11. . At this time, the input device detects a slight vertical displacement DZ generated when the operator touches the input plate 11 with a finger, and detects the Z-direction movement amount detection sensor 23.
, And recognizes that the operator performs the operation of moving the pointer 3 from this. (This is the state of FIG. 2B. Hereinafter, the operation of recognizing that the worker performs the operation of moving the pointer 3 is referred to as operation recognition.)

Thereafter, the operator sets the input plate 11 to β
Move in the direction of the point. (This is the state shown in FIG. 2C.)
At this time, the input device includes an X-direction movement amount detection sensor 21 and a Y-direction movement amount detection sensor 21.
The displacement amount of the input plate 11 is read by the direction movement amount detection sensor 22, and a pointer movement command signal for moving the pointer 3 displayed on the screen in the direction of the point β is output.

When the pointer 3 reaches the point β, the operator releases the finger touching the input plate 11. Then
The input plate 11 automatically returns to the origin 15 by the action of the elastic body 13. At this time, since the operator's finger is not touching the input plate 11, the input plate 11 moves to the origin 15 without any vertical displacement. Therefore, when the input plate 11 automatically returns to the origin 15, the input device
Since there is no vertical displacement, this is not regarded as an operation of moving the pointer, so that the pointer 3 can return to the original point alone without moving the pointer 3 at the position of the β point.

That is, in the input device of the present invention, the displacement of the input plate 11 is recognized as the operation amount only when the operator moves the input plate 11 in the direction in which the pointer 3 is to be moved by the finger or the like. Input plate 1 with fingers
1 to move the input plate 11 to the elastic body 13.
When it is moving in the direction of the origin due to the repulsive force of this, the displacement amount is not recognized as the operation amount.

Similarly, the operation when the pointer 3 displayed at the point α on the screen 5 is moved to the point γ at the upper right end of the screen will be described. In this case, since the moving distance of the pointer 3 is long, even if the input plate 11 is moved to the limit position 12 of the pointer, it can be moved only to a point halfway from the point α to the point γ. In such a case, similarly to the case of the mouse described in the conventional example, the pointer 3 can be moved to the γ point by repeating the above operation twice or plural times.

However, it is very troublesome for the operator to perform the above operation to move the pointer 3 over a long distance. Therefore, in the input device of the present invention, when the state where the input plate 11 is moved to the upper right end limit position 12 continues for a certain period of time, the pointer movement command signal for moving the input plate 11 in the same direction as before is automatically continuously generated. It is configured to be able to occur.

That is, when the operator moves the input plate 11 to the limit position 12 in order to move the pointer 3 over a long distance, the limit switch 14 comes into contact with the limit position 12 of the input plate 11 and is turned on. Input device 10
Is that the input plate 11 is moved to the limit position 12 by this signal.
Recognize that you have reached.

Thereafter, the input device 10 continuously generates a pointer movement signal for continuously moving the pointer 3 in the same direction as before up to a certain time after the limit switch 14 is turned on.

Thus, even when the operator moves the pointer 3 over a long distance, the operator continues to move the pointer 3 in the same direction only by fixing the input plate without repeating the same operation a plurality of times. It is possible.

Further, when the input device of the present invention moves the input plate 11 to the upper limit position 12 at the upper right end as described above, and the pointer continuously moves in the previous moving direction for a certain period of time, The moving speed of the pointer 3 is increased.

Further, the single click and double click operations of the mouse described in the conventional example are realized by changing the depth when the input plate 11 is pressed in the vertical direction in the input device of the present invention. Recognizing that the detection depth of the Z-direction movement amount detection sensor 23 for detecting the amount of movement of the input plate 11 in the vertical direction in three stages is divided into three stages, and that the first stage performs the operation of moving the pointer by the operator. The second stage is a detection depth for a single click, and the third stage is a detection depth for a double click.

Therefore, the operator moves the pointer 3 on the screen to a target position by moving the input plate 11 in the direction in which the pointer 3 is to be moved, and then moves the input plate 11 to the depth of the second stage at that position. By pressing down, it is possible to perform a single-click operation, and by further pressing down to the third depth at that location, it is possible to perform a double-clicking operation.

Next, a second embodiment relating to the input device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The diagram shown in FIG. 11 shows the second embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view cut along the same cut surface as FIG. 1C, and an elastic body 13 is omitted for easy understanding of the drawing. Also, in this figure, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 9A, the input plate 11
Is supported by an elastic body 81 fixed to the bottom surface, and a laser transceiver 82 is provided below the input plate 11.

The laser transmitter / receiver 81 has an effective detection distance L set therein, and detects the amount of movement of the input plate 11 that is shorter than the effective detection distance L.

In the input device having such a configuration, when the input plate is not operated, the input plate 1
1 is supported by the elastic body 81 at a position higher than the effective detection distance L. When the operator presses the input plate 11 with a finger or the like, the input plate 11 sinks downward, and as shown in FIG. As shown, it moves to a place that is less than the effective detection distance L.

In this state, when the operator moves the input plate 11, the amount of movement of the input plate 11 is detected by the laser transceiver 81, and when the operator releases his / her finger, the input plate 11 is again moved to the elastic body 81. As a result, the carriage returns to the origin while being supported at a position higher than the effective detection distance L.

That is, in the input device shown in the figure, the laser transceiver 81 having an effective detection distance L provided below the input plate performs operation recognition and detects the amount of movement of the input plate 11.

In the input device of this type, as shown in FIG. 4A, a rotating body 91 for detecting the moving amount in the X direction is used instead of the laser transceiver 81 having the effective detection distance L. When the input plate is not operated by using the rotating body 92 for detecting the moving amount in the Y direction,
The input plate 11 is disposed so as not to contact the rotating bodies 91 and 92, and when the operator presses the input plate 11 with a finger or the like, the input plate 11 sinks downward, as shown in FIG. The input plate 11 is a rotating body 91,
By making contact with the input device 92, the same operation as the input device shown in FIG. 3 can be performed.

The input device of the present invention can be manufactured in a space-saving manner by using such a configuration, and can be used to check that the operator has operated himself / herself with his / her hand or finger.
It is possible to realize an input device that can be easily recognized as physical distance information or position information and can move a pointer on a screen over a long distance with a small number of operations.

It should be noted that the foregoing description has been directed to specific preferred embodiments for the purpose of illustration and illustration of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes many more modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.
This includes deformation.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, even when the input plate 11 is installed on the outer shell 16 of a personal computer, the effects described above can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 6, the vertical depth of the input plate 11 can be detected by a method of detecting deformation of a soft material by a change in capacitance without using an optical sensor. The effect described above can be obtained.

Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the above-described effect can be obtained even when an uneven slip stopper is added to the surface of the input plate 11.

The above-described effect can be obtained by performing the mesh processing for reading the optical sensor on the bottom surface of the input plate even if a dot-like pattern that can be read by the optical sensor is applied.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a method of detecting the position of the input plate 11 is as follows: a Y-axis laser emitter 91 and a Y-axis laser receiver 92; an X-axis laser emitter 93 and a Y-axis laser receiver. It is also possible to use the detector 94 to detect a change in the position of the reflected light accompanying the movement of the input plate 11 and to detect the amount of movement of the input plate 11,
FIG. 9 shows a method for detecting the position of the input plate 11 in the vertical direction.
As shown in (1), it is also possible to use a plurality of types of mechanical switches SW1 to SW3 having different strokes.

[0075]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the present invention, it is possible to produce in a small space, and it is easy to recognize that the operator has operated himself / herself through his / her hand or finger as physical distance information or position information,
It is possible to realize an input device capable of moving the pointer on the screen over a long distance with a small number of operations.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment relating to an input device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation of moving the pointer of the input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment relating to the input device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an application example of the second embodiment relating to the input device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram in which an input plate of the input device according to the present invention is installed on an upper surface of an outer shell of a computer.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an input plate of the input device according to the present invention realized using a soft material.

FIG. 7 is a diagram in which a surface of an input plate of the input device according to the present invention is provided with uneven anti-slip.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a position detection method of an input plate.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a position detection method of an input plate.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a conventional input device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a trackball as an example of a conventional input device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating AccuPoint as an example of a conventional input device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a button-type input device as an example of a conventional input device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a touch pad as an example of a conventional input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer 2 Notch 3 Pointer 4 Finger 5 Screen 10 Input device 11 Input plate 12 Limit position 13 Elastic body 14 Limit switch 15 Origin of input plate 16 Personal computer outer shell 20 Desktop computer 21 Keyboard 22 Screen 23 Pointer 24 Icon 30 Icon 30 Mouse 31 Right-click button 32 Left-click button 33 Cable 34 Sphere 35 X-direction movement amount detection sensor 36 Y-direction movement amount detection sensor 41 Trackball 51 Accu point 61 Button 71 Touch pad

Claims (16)

[Claims] An input device used as a pointing device for generating a control signal for freely moving a pointer displayed on a screen, wherein a range up to a mechanical limit position is horizontally set in an X direction and a Y direction. An input plate that can be moved, a movement amount detection unit that detects a movement amount of the input plate, an origin return mechanism that returns the input plate to an origin position, and a state where an operator is touching the input plate. And a control signal generating means for generating the control signal corresponding to the moving amount of the input plate from information obtained from the moving amount detecting means. Input device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movement amount detection means includes a position detection means for detecting a position of said input plate, and is configured to detect a movement amount of said input plate based on a change in the position obtained here. The input device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The moving amount of the input plate includes at least a moving direction, a moving amount, a moving vector,
The input device according to claim 2, wherein the input device includes one of a moving speed and a moving acceleration. 4. The input device according to claim 2, wherein said position detecting means comprises an optical sensor for detecting an amount of movement of said input plate in an X-axis direction and an amount of movement in a Y-axis direction. . 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said position detecting means comprises:
A Y-axis rotator that rotates by axial movement, and a rotation amount detection sensor that detects a movement amount of the input plate based on rotation amounts of the X-axis rotator and the Y-axis rotator. Item 3. The input device according to Item 2. 6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said moving amount detecting means includes limit position detecting means for detecting that said input plate has reached said mechanical limit position. 7. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said operation identification means is constituted by an optical sensor or a mechanical switch for detecting a submersion generated when said input plate moves. 8. The transfer amount detecting means includes a Z-axis sensor for detecting a vertical movement amount of the input plate in one or a plurality of depths, and the control signal generating means includes: The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is configured to output a command corresponding to the depth of each stage detected by the Z-axis sensor. 9. The control signal generating means, wherein the input plate reaches a movement limit by the limit position detecting means,
And when the fixed state at this position has continued for a certain period of time,
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the pointer movement command signal for further moving the pointer in a direction in which the movement direction of the pointer is extended is continuously output. 10. The input device according to claim 9, wherein the output interval of the continuously output pointer movement command signal changes according to a fixed time of the input plate. 11. The home position return mechanism includes repulsive force generating means for generating a repulsive force proportional to a displacement of the input plate when an operator moves the input plate in a horizontal direction. The input device according to claim 1, wherein 12. The home position return mechanism generates a first repulsive force when the input plate is near the home position.
2. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a non-linear repulsive force generating means for generating a second repulsive force stronger than the first repulsive force when the input plate is near the limit position. . 13. The control signal generating means outputs a pointer movement command signal for moving the pointer further in a direction in which the moving direction of the pointer is extended while the second repulsive force is being generated. The input device according to claim 12, wherein the input device is configured as follows. 14. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input plate is provided on a surface of a shell of the input device or inside the shell. 15. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input plate has a surface subjected to a non-slip processing. 16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control signal generating means does not output said pointer movement command signal when said input plate returns to the origin by said origin returning means. Input device as described.