JP2003122502A - Three-dimensional pointing device, game machine using it, cad system and portable computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intuitive and inexpensive three-dimensional pointing device and an environment using it. SOLUTION: The interior of the body of this three-dimensional pointing device is provided with point moving request input means for a first direction and a second direction and detecting devices for the input requests, whereby the detecting devices are moved in an integrated third direction to input three- dimensional coordinates. The detecting devices operate a coordinate input device. According to the movement of a part of the body such as a finger, the input device is moved in the body. By using a controller adopting the input means using this pointing device, three-dimensional coordinate input environment can be improved in a game machine, a CAD system and a portable computer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional pointing device for computers in general.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional three-dimensional pointing device inputs coordinate information in a two-dimensional space by moving the pointing device itself on a plane, and input of information in a third direction is added to a side surface or an upper surface of a main body. What is performed by an input device (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-288541), one with a means for selecting planes xy, yz, and xx for inputting coordinate information (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-241167), Alternatively, the input device itself is moved in a three-dimensional space, and a transmitter and a detector of light or ultrasonic waves are paired to detect, thereby inputting the three-dimensional coordinate information of the input device. (JP-A-60-61826, JP-A-5-12)
7809, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-233131, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-319501).

[0003]

The above-mentioned three-dimensional pointing device has an environment in which the input work is limited to a plane, or the structure is unclear, and the input device is large and therefore easy to use. It is not possible to input three-dimensional coordinates at a low cost and with good operability.

The method of inputting two-dimensional coordinates by moving the input device on a plane and inputting in the three-axis directions by the input device added to the upper surface or the side surface of the main body is obviously the three-axis direction. The input of coordinates is distinguished from other two-dimensional information input, and it is not an intuitive input because it deviates from the human sense of recognizing the space as a whole. Further, when inputting two-dimensional coordinates, a plane for moving the input device is always required, which limits the input environment.

In the case of the method of inputting three-dimensional coordinates by detecting the movement of the input device itself, a device for measuring the position of the input device in space is indispensable. Generally, it is a large and complicated structure,
It is inevitable that it takes a large work space and becomes expensive.

In CAD systems and computer games that require operations in a three-dimensional space, intuitive and quick input means for three-dimensional coordinates are required, but the current coordinate input device is essentially two-dimensional. It is a coordinate input means and has a difficulty in operability. In addition, especially for home-use game machines, it is required that the input device is small, does not limit the input environment, and is inexpensive, but it is possible to input three-dimensional coordinates to realize this. There is no proper input device.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Point movement request amount in first direction and second direction By moving the input device itself in the third direction inside the main body of the input device, the movement request amount in the third direction can be obtained. , And simultaneously input enough information to point to one point in the three-dimensional space.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a typical input mechanism of the pointing device of the present invention. By rotating the 2D coordinate input device itself with a built-in trackball,
Input coordinates in the third direction.

FIG. 2 is a general configuration example when the present pointing device and a computer are used.

The three-dimensional pointing device of the present invention inputs three-dimensional coordinate information by operating the input device inside the main body by inserting a part of the body into the main body as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the input device in the main body is operated by inserting the thumb into the main body.

(Embodiment 1) An embodiment of a coordinate input device will be described with reference to FIGS.

The coordinate input section is fitted in the main body on the axis of 7, and the coordinate input section can rotate about this axis in the main body.

The operator inputs a coordinate by inserting a finger from 2, and rotating the axis of 7 with the ball of 4 and the vertical movement of the entire coordinate input section.

The mechanisms 4, 5 and 6 in FIG. 5 have the same functions as the conventional mouse and trackball, and detect the rotation amount of the ball 4 up to 5 and 6 which are arranged in orthogonal directions. , Notifies the computer of the movement request amount in each direction.

The mechanisms 7 and 8 in the figure detect the required point movement amount in the z-axis direction. The insertion opening 2 moves up and down in accordance with the up and down movement of the operator's finger, and the spinning top 8 is rotated through the axis 7 to transmit the required movement amount in the z-axis direction to the computer.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 6 and 7 show an embodiment in which another input device is incorporated in the main body of the input device.

Reference numeral 11 in FIG. 6 is a ring through which the inserted finger is inserted, and the up, down, left and right movements of the ring are transmitted to the switch 13 via a rod 12 attached to the ring. Switch 1
3 is a switch for distinguishing between two types of ON / OFF,
When the switch 12 is pressing the switch 13, it is in the ON state. With this method, a point movement request in the vertical and horizontal directions is input.

Reference numeral 9 encloses the entire input section, and reference numeral 10 connects the main body and the ring. Reference numeral 14 is a claw for moving the input device back and forth in the main body.

Reference numeral 9 in FIG. 7 denotes the entire input device shown in FIG. By moving 9 back and forth in the main body 3, a point movement request in the front-back direction is input.

Input in the front-back direction is performed by pushing a switch (13 in FIG. 6) attached to the main body (3 in FIG. 7) by moving the claw (14 in FIG. 6) of the input device back and forth.

The above is the embodiment relating to the three-dimensional pointing device itself. The following describes a new system that can be implemented using this pointing device.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 8 shows a case in which this pointing device is used as a controller of a home-use game machine.

The hole indicated by 2 in FIG. 8 is a portion to be a finger insertion port for inputting three-dimensional coordinates. When the controller is held in the hand, the 2 insertion opening is naturally provided at the position where the left thumb is located. Further, the buttons 15, 16 and 17 are buttons for inputting ON / OFF binary values. The number of the buttons is determined according to the purpose of use, and the number is unlimited. These buttons are also placed at the position where the right hand's thumb comes naturally when holding the controller.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the structure of a game machine using the controller as described above.

When the object to be moved (Object in FIG. 10) is moved in the x and z directions during the game, the thumb inserted in the ring in the controller is moved vertically to the direction in which the finger is inserted. Stick 1 linked to
2 switches the switch 13 to ON or OFF. By this signal, the movement request in the x and z directions is transmitted to the game machine body.

When the object to be moved (Object in FIG. 10) is moved in the y direction during the game, by putting the thumb inserted into the ring in the controller back and forth, 9 interlocks with the ring and 9 Move back and forth. At this time, the switch in the controller body is pushed or released by 14 so that this switch is turned on or off, and the movement request in the y-axis direction can be transmitted to the game machine body.

The buttons 15, 16, 17, etc. are not necessarily directly involved in the input of the movement request, and the ON / OFF information is used depending on the contents of the game to be realized.

(Embodiment 4) FIGS. 11 and 12 show an embodiment in which a controller in which the coordinate input unit of the above controller is replaced with the pointing device of FIG. 3 is used on a CAD system.

The arrow in the center of FIG. 12 is the coordinate pointer on the screen. By moving this pointer with the above controller incorporated in the CAD system and using the buttons (15 and 16 in FIG. 8) attached to the controller, three-dimensional coordinate input can be performed.

When moving the pointer in the x and y directions,
With the thumb inserted in the controller, the upper surface of the ball inside is rolled forward, backward, leftward, and rightward to input the required movement amount in the x direction (rolling left and right) and the direction y (rolling forward and backward). The front and rear rolling is detected by the frame 6 in FIG. 5 in contact with the ball, and the left and right rolling is detected by the frame 5 in FIG. 5 and the amount of rotation thereof is notified to the CAD system main body to request the point movement. Enter the amount.

When the pointer is moved in the z direction, the thumb inserted in the controller is moved up and down so as to push and release the ball, whereby the shaft 7 in FIG. 3 rotates and the shaft rotates in contact with it. The amount of rotation of the axis is detected by the detecting top 9 and the CAD system main body is notified of the rotation amount, thereby inputting the point movement request amount in the z direction.

The operation such as obtaining the coordinate value of the position of the pointer is performed by pushing the buttons 15 and 16 in FIG. 8 with the thumb of the right hand.

When a point movement request is made, the ball rotates,
When the rotation of the shaft is not enough, while the button 17 is being pressed, the coordinate input by the left thumb is temporarily stopped (the rotation amount detection by 5, 6, 8 is temporarily stopped), so that the right thumb is moved to its original position. By returning to step 1, the desired point position movement request can be divided into as many steps as desired.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 13 shows an embodiment in which the three-dimensional pointing device of the present case is incorporated in a portable computer.

By putting a finger at 18 in FIG. 13, the built-in pointing device is operated.

Since the pointing device of the present invention is characterized in that the input section is placed inside the input device, the input section is directly embedded in the computer without being separated from the computer main body, as shown in FIG. .

[0038]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION By arranging a means for inputting the required movement amount of coordinates inside the main body, it is possible to input three-dimensional coordinates according to the movement of the body, and as a result, the connection between the operation action and the input result is clear. It is also possible to provide an inexpensive three-dimensional pointing device. In addition, since the input means is inside the input device main body, there is an effect that the place to use is not limited, and a large work space is not required. Therefore, a natural three-dimensional coordinate input is possible even in a home computer game machine and a small portable computer. Can provide the environment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an input mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a general configuration example when using the present pointing device and a computer.

FIG. 3 shows an operation example of the pointing device.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a coordinate input section according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view of FIG. 3 as seen from directly above.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the coordinate input part according to the present invention, which is different from the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of FIG. 6 seen from the lower right direction, showing how the input device body moves.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which the present three-dimensional pointing device is used as a controller of a game machine.

FIG. 9 is a general configuration example of a game system using the pointing device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a moving target appearing in game software.

FIG. 11 C using the pointing device of the present invention
1 is a general configuration example of an AD system.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pointer that appears on the screen of CAD software.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a portable computer incorporating the pointing device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Operator's left hand 2 Thumb insertion slot 3 Coordinate input device body Four balls 5 Top for detecting the amount of rotation of the ball (x direction) Top for detecting the amount of rotation of the 6-ball (y direction) 7 axes Top for detecting rotation amount of 8 axes (z direction) 9 x, z direction detector frame Frame surrounding 10 rings 11 ring 12 Rod that connects the ring and the button 13 buttons 14 nails 15 Multipurpose button 16 Multipurpose button 17 Multipurpose button 18 finger insertion hole

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A point position movement request input means for the first direction and the second direction, and detection devices for these input requests are provided inside the main body, and these detection devices are integrated to form a third inside the main body. A three-dimensional pointing device having means for inputting a movement request in the third direction by moving in the direction and a device for detecting the movement request. 2. A unit for inputting a point position movement amount request in the first and second directions and a device for detecting the request are provided inside the main body, and the input device is adapted to a part of the body operating it. A three-dimensional pointing device characterized by being able to move inside the body. 3. The three-dimensional pointing device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an insertion opening for inserting a part of a body for operating an input device in the main body. 4. The three-dimensional pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for detecting movement requests in two directions orthogonal to each other by rotating a ball installed inside the main body. 5. A means for detecting a required movement amount in a third direction by moving the ball in a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of the ball in accordance with a part of a body to be operated. The three-dimensional pointing device according to 4. 6. The three-dimensional pointing device according to claim 2, further comprising a ring for inserting a part of a body used for operation, inside the main body. 7. The three-dimensional pointing device according to claim 6, wherein the ring has a mechanism for detecting a direction perpendicular to a mutually inserting direction by a mechanism for moving the ring vertically to the inserting direction of the body. device. 8. The three-dimensional pointing device according to claim 6, wherein the movement request of the ring is input by a mechanism in which the ring moves in parallel to the inserting direction of the body. 9. A computer game machine, wherein the input device has a function according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 10. A CAD system, wherein the input device has a function according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 11. A portable computer, wherein the input device has the function of any one of claims 1 to 7.