JP2003177871A - Input device capable of executing multiple input operation with single button - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device capable of executing multiple input operations with a single button. <P>SOLUTION: This button device is provided with a position detecting means for detecting the contact position of a finger, and for outputting a position signal, and an instruction is decided based on the combination of the position signal and the contact signal of the button. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device for operating electronic equipment such as a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an input device for operating an electronic device such as a computer inputs a command using a button. In this, a contact is operated by pressing a button, and one command (ON / OFF) can be input for each contact. There is also an input device that inputs a command using a lever, a dial, or the like. These are capable of inputting quantitative commands depending on the tilt angle of the lever and the rotation angle of the dial.

There is also an invention of an apparatus for inputting a command using a plurality of keys having a contact detection sensor on the surface of the key, as known from Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-194882.
In addition to the command input by pressing the key, the command input by the finger touching the key and the quantitative command input by sliding the finger across each key. The invention relates to a keyboard or the like for operating electronic devices such as a computer, which can be performed.

In the above-mentioned input device, the number of buttons and the like is fixed with respect to the input device. Therefore, the number and types of commands that a certain input device can input are determined by the number and types of buttons and the like that the input device has. Further, since the size of the input device is limited to some extent depending on the usage form, the number of buttons and the like that can be provided is also limited to some extent.

[0005]

The above-mentioned prior art has the following problems.

1. If the number of buttons provided was small, only a small number of commands could be input.

2. Due to the number of buttons and the like that can be provided, the multi-functionality was limited.

3. The structure of the input device must be complicated when trying to achieve multi-functionality.

4. In order to perform a quantitative input operation, it was necessary to provide a lever, a dial, etc. in addition to the buttons.

5. In the invention disclosed in JP-A-11-194882, in order to perform a quantitative input operation,
Although it is not necessary to provide a lever or dial separately from the key, the input device must be composed of multiple keys,
The structure was complicated.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention enables a large number of input operations with a single button.

[0012]

According to the present invention, a single button is provided with position detecting means for detecting a contact position of a finger and outputting a position signal, and a combination of the position signal and the contact signal of the button is provided. By determining the command based on
Allows multiple input operations with a single button.

Further, by recording the moving order of the positions of the fingers touching the buttons and determining the command based on the combination of the recording and the contact signal, a large number of input operations can be easily performed with a single button. It can be done by simple operation.

Furthermore, by calculating the movement amount of the position of the finger touching the button and outputting the adjustment amount, it is possible to perform a quantitative operation with a single button.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the input device according to claim 1 will be described below (FIG. 1).

The button 1 has a flat surface, and a detecting portion 2a of position detecting means is provided thereon. The back surface of the button 1 is provided with a protrusion 1a that is brought into contact with the contact 3 to be operated, so that the contact 3 can be reliably operated even if the button 1 is pressed at any position on the front surface (FIG. 2).

The position detecting means is composed of a touch sensor for electrically detecting the position of the finger to be touched, and comprises a detecting section 2a and a control section 2b. The control unit 2b reads the voltage change of the contact portion α at the moment when the finger touches the detection unit 2a, calculates the contact coordinates (x, y), converts them into the position signal A, and outputs the position signal A. x0 and y0 represent the origin of the coordinates, and xh and yh represent the upper limit of the coordinates. When a finger is not in contact with the detection unit 2a, x and y are each represented by an invalid value (null).

As the touch sensor, a capacitance type one, a resistance film type one, an electromagnetic induction type one, an ultrasonic type one or the like can be used.

The contact 3 is an electric contact and operates in response to the pressing operation of the button 1 to output a contact signal B. The contact signal B is “on” when the button 1 is pressed and “off” when the button 1 is released.
Becomes

The command determining means 4 controls the control command C if the contact signal B is "on" when the contact position α is at a predetermined position.
Is a software which is programmed so as to determine the first command and the control signal C to be the second command when the contact signal B is "off". The command determining means 4 is incorporated into an electronic device such as a computer to be controlled by the input device to operate (FIG. 3).

4 to 7 are examples of programs of the command determining means 4. It should be noted that the coordinates xp and yp are divisions for dividing the position on the detection unit 2a, and the contact position α is the detection unit 2a.
It is used to determine which position above.

In the program example of FIG. 4, the position on the detector 2a is regarded as four positions of lower left, lower right, upper left and upper right, and when the contact position α is in the lower left (α1), the contact signal B is "o".
If it is n, the control command C is determined to be “c1”, and if it is “off”, it is determined to be “c2” (S1 to 4). When the contact position α is at the lower right (α2), the contact signal B is “on”. If so, the control command C is determined to be "c3", and if it is "off", it is determined to be "c4" (S5-8). When the contact position α is at the upper left (α3), the contact signal B is "on". For example, control command C is "c5",
If it is "off", it is determined to be "c6" (S9-12),
When the contact position α is at the upper right (α4), the contact signal B is “o”.
If it is n, the control command C is determined to be "c7", and if it is "off", it is determined to be "c8" (S13-16).

In the program example of FIG. 5, the position on the detector 2a is regarded as one position, and if the contact signal B is "on" no matter where the contact position α is, the control command C is "c1",
If it is "off", it is determined to be "c2".

In the program example of FIG. 6, the position on the detecting portion 2a is regarded as three positions at the lower left, lower right and upper, and the contact position α
Is at the lower left (α1), if the contact signal B is “on”, the control command C is “c1”, and if it is “off”, “c2”
When the contact position B is "on" when the contact position α is at the lower right (α2), the control command C is set to "c".
If "3" or "off", then "c4" is determined (S5-
8) When the contact position α is on the upper side (α3), the control command C is determined to be “c5” if the contact signal B is “on”, and “c6” if it is “off” (S9-). 12).

In the program example of FIG. 7, the position on the detecting portion 2a is regarded as two positions at the lower right and the upper left, and when the contact position α is at the lower right (α1), if the contact signal B is "on". If the control command C is "c1" or "off", it is determined to be "c2" (S1 to 4). If the contact signal B is "on" when the contact position α is in the upper left (α2), the control command C is C for "c
If "3" or "off", "c4" is determined (S
5-8).

As described above, depending on the program of the command determining means 4, it is possible to make a large number of input operations with a single button 1 or to make only a small number of input operations possible.

Next, an embodiment of the input device according to claim 2 will be described.

The command determining means 4 of the present input device has a button 1
The moving order At of the position α of the finger touching the finger is recorded, and when the recorded At has a predetermined content, the contact signal B is “on”.
If so, the control command C is determined as the first command, and "off"
If so, the control command C is programmed to be determined as the second command (FIG. 8).

FIG. 9 shows an example of a program of the command determining means 4. In addition, Ap is a position code indicating a position on the detection unit 2a, and the movement order At is arrayed and recorded by this position code Ap. The initial states of the position code Ap and the movement order At are invalid values (null). i is the column number of the movement order At, and the initial value is “0”. If “At [0]”,
The value of the first column of the movement order At is shown.

In this program example, first, in S1 to 10, the position on the detecting portion 2a is regarded as four positions of lower left, lower right, upper left and upper right, and the contact position α is encoded. When the contact position α is at the lower left, the position code Ap is “bl”, when the contact position α is at the lower right, the position code Ap is “br”, and when the contact position α is at the upper left, the position code Ap is “tl”. When the contact position α is at the upper right, the position code Ap is “tr”, and when the finger is not in contact, the position code Ap is “null”.

Next, in S11 to 18, the moving order At of the finger contact position α is recorded. In S11, the presence or absence of a finger contact is determined by looking at the value of the position code Ap. Position code A
If p is not an invalid value, it indicates that there is finger contact. If the position code Ap is an invalid value, it indicates that there is no finger contact. When there is no finger contact, i and the movement order At are initialized (S17, S18). S12 is the movement order A
Whether or not the contact position α has moved is determined by looking at the value in the last column of t. The value of the last column of the moving order At and the position code Ap
If the values of are different, it indicates that the contact position α has moved or that the fingers have started to contact. If the value of the last column of the movement order At and the value of the position code Ap are the same, it indicates that the contact position α has not moved. When the contact position α is not moved, the moving order At is not recorded. In step S13, it is determined whether or not the contact position α is at the start point of the moving order by looking at the value of the moving order At. If the movement order At is the initial value, it indicates that the contact position α is at the start point of the movement order, and therefore the next step S14
Then, i is initialized to prepare for recording the position code Ap in the first column of the movement order At. If the movement order At is not the initial value, the contact position α has moved from the starting point, and the movement order A has already been moved.
Since it indicates that t is recorded, "1" is added to i in the next S15, and the position code A is added to the last column of the movement order At.
Prepare to record p. S16 is the movement order A indicated by i
The position code Ap is recorded in a predetermined column of t.

According to the programs of S11 to 18, when the contact position α is at the lower left (α1), the value of the movement order At becomes "bl". Subsequently, when the contact position α moves to the lower right (α2), the value of the moving order At becomes “bl, br”.
Subsequently, when the contact position α moves to the upper right (α3), the value of the moving order At becomes “bl, br, tr”.

Next, in S19 to 30, the control command C is determined based on the contents of the movement order At and the state of the contact signal B. Movement order At is "bl" and contact signal B is "on"
If so, the control command C is “c1”, if “off”, it is “c2” (S19 to 22), and the movement order At is “bl, b”.
If the contact signal B is "on" at r ", the control command C is" c ".
3 "or" off ", then" c4 "(S23-26),
If the moving order At is "bl, br, tr" and the contact signal B is "on", the control command C is "c5", and if it is "off", it is "c6" (S27-30).

In the above program example, since there are three types of patterns of the movement order At used to determine the instruction, there are only six types of control instructions C, but the patterns of the movement order At can be increased depending on the program. Therefore, the number of control commands C can be similarly increased.

As described above, the moving order At of the contact position α
If the control command C is determined based on the contact signal B and
It is possible to further increase the types of commands that can be input, as compared with the input device according to the first aspect.

Next, an embodiment of the input device according to claim 3 will be described.

This input device is the input device according to the first aspect, further comprising an adjustment amount calculation means 5 (FIG. 10).

When the position α of the finger touching the button 1 moves, the adjustment amount calculating means 5 moves from the starting point αf to the ending point α.
Software programmed so as to calculate the movement amount (dx, dy) up to e and output the adjustment amount D, which is incorporated in an electronic device such as a computer to be controlled by the input device together with the command determining means 4. It is operated (FIG. 11).

FIG. 12 shows an example of a program of the adjustment amount calculation means 5, in which only the movement amount dx in the X-axis direction is calculated and the adjustment amount D is output. The initial state of the coordinate value xf of the starting point αf is an invalid value (null).

In S1 of this program example, the presence or absence of a finger contact is determined by looking at the coordinate value x. If the coordinate value x is not an invalid value, it indicates that there is a finger contact. Coordinate value x
If is an invalid value, it means that there is no finger contact. When there is no finger contact, the coordinate value xf is initialized (S5). S
2 indicates that the current contact position α is the starting point αf as seen from the coordinate value xf.
Alternatively, it is determined whether or not it is the end point αe. Coordinate value x
If f is an initial value, it indicates that the current contact position α is the starting point αf. If the coordinate value xf is not the initial value, it indicates that the current contact position α is the end point αe. Current contact position α
Is the starting point αf, the coordinate value x at this time is set as the coordinate value xf of the starting point αf (S3). In S4, the coordinate value xf is subtracted from the coordinate value x to obtain the movement amount dx, and this value is output to the adjustment amount D.

According to the above program, the contact position α is α
When it is 1, since both the starting point αf and the ending point αe are α1, the adjustment amount D is “0”. Next, the contact position α is α2
When the point is moved to, since the end point αe is α2, the adjustment amount D becomes dx1. Then, when the contact position α moves to α3,
Since the end point αe is α3, the adjustment amount D is dx2.

As described above, if the input device according to claim 1 is further provided with the adjustment amount calculation means 5, both the input operation of the ON / OFF and the input operation of the quantitative input are performed with a single button. 1
You can do it only.

[0043]

[Embodiment 1] Next, an example in which the present invention is applied to a computer mouse will be described (FIG. 13). In the following description, only matters relating to the present invention will be explained, and explanations regarding matters relating to conventional techniques such as mouse cursor control will be omitted.

On the surface of the button 1 provided on the mouse body 101, there is provided a detecting section 2a of position detecting means. The control unit 2b and the contact 3 of the position detecting means are provided inside the mouse body 101. The position signal A and the contact signal B are output from the mouse body 101 and input to the computer 102 that is the control target of the mouse 101. The command determining means 4 and the adjustment amount calculating means 5 are installed in the computer 102 and operated (FIG. 14).

The operating system or application software operating on the computer 102 operates by receiving the control command C determined by the command determining means 4 and the adjustment amount D output from the adjustment amount calculating means 5 (not shown). .

The mouse 101 of this embodiment is used as follows to operate the computer 102 (FIG. 15).

Normal selection operation: The finger is brought into contact with the upper left position α6 on the detection section 2a, and the button 1 is pressed.

Cut operation: When the finger is brought into contact with the lower right position α3 on the detector 2a, the contact position α is moved straight upward, and when the finger is in contact with the upper right position α8 on the detector 2a. , Button 1 is pressed.

Copy operation: When a finger is brought into contact with the upper left position α6 on the detector 2a, the contact position α is moved straight to the right, and when the finger is in contact with the upper right position α8 on the detector 2a, Press button 1.

Paste operation: The finger is brought into contact with the upper right position α8 on the detector 2a, the contact position α is moved straight to the left, and when the finger is in contact with the upper left position α6 on the detector 2a, Press button 1.

Clear operation: When the finger is brought into contact with the upper right position α8 on the detector 2a, the contact position α is moved straight downward, and the finger is in contact with the lower right position α3 on the detector 2a. , Button 1 is pressed.

All selection operation: When the finger is brought into contact with the lower left position α1 on the detector 2a, the contact position α is moved straight upward, and when the finger is in contact with the upper left position α6 on the detector 2a. , Button 1 is pressed.

Canceling operation: When the finger is brought into contact with the lower right position α3 on the detecting portion 2a, the contact position α is moved straight to the left, and the finger is in contact with the lower left position α1 on the detecting portion 2a. , Button 1 is pressed.

Redo operation: When the finger is brought into contact with the lower left position α1 on the detection unit 2a, the contact position α is moved straight to the right, and the finger is in contact with the lower right position α3 on the detection unit 2a. , Button 1 is pressed.

Downward scroll operation: The finger is brought into contact with the upper center position α7 on the detecting portion 2a, and the contact position α is moved straight downward. Scroll down in proportion to the amount of movement of the contact position α.

Up-scrolling operation: The fingers are brought into contact with the lower center position α2 on the detector 2a, and the contact position α is moved straight upward. Scrolls up in proportion to the amount of movement of the contact position α.

Right scroll operation: The finger is brought into contact with the position α4 at the left center on the detecting portion 2a, and the contact position α is moved straight to the right. The right scroll is performed in proportion to the movement amount of the contact position α.

Left scroll operation: The finger is brought into contact with the position α5 at the center of the right on the detecting portion 2a, and the contact position α is moved straight to the left. The left scroll is performed in proportion to the movement amount of the contact position α.

As described above, when the present invention is applied to the computer mouse, the button 1 provided in the mouse body 101
Even if there is only one, many functions can be realized by simple operations.

[0060]

Second Embodiment Next, an example in which the present invention is applied to a game machine controller will be described. The controller for the game machine is equipped with two input devices of the present invention (FIG. 16).

A left button 11 is provided on the left side of the controller main body 201, and a detecting portion 2al of left button side position detecting means is provided on the surface of the left button 11. The controller 2bl of the left button side position detecting means and the left button side contact 3l are provided inside the controller body 201. Controller body 20
1 to the left button side position signal Al and the left button side contact signal B
is output and input to the game machine 202 which is a control target of this controller. The same applies to the right button 1r, the detection unit 2ar of the right button side position detection means, the control unit 2br of the right button side position detection means, the right button side contact 3r, the right button side position signal Ar and the right button side contact signal Br. .

The left button side command determining means 4l, the left button side adjustment amount calculating means 5l, the right button side command determining means 4r, and the right button side adjustment amount calculating means 5r are incorporated in the game software program 203, and the game machine 202 Install it in and run it (Fig. 17).

The game software program 203 is
Left button side control command Cl determined by the left button side command determining means 4l, left button side adjustment amount Dl output from the left button side adjustment amount calculating means 5l, right button determined by the right button side command determining means 4r. Side control command Cr,
It operates by receiving the right button side adjustment amount Dr output from the right button side adjustment amount calculation means 5r (not shown).

The controller 201 of this embodiment operates the game software program 203 using the following method (FIG. 18). Since the command determining means 4l, 4r and the adjustment amount calculating means 5l, 5r are incorporated in the game software program 203, they are specially programmed for each game. Therefore, the operation method differs depending on the target game. In this operation example, a car competition game is assumed.

Right-hand operation of the handle: the finger is on the left side of the detection unit 2al
The upper left position α11 is contacted, and the contact position α is moved straight to the right. Turn the handle to the right in proportion to the amount of movement of the contact position α.

Left-hand operation of the steering wheel: the finger is on the left-hand side detection section 2al
The upper right position α14 is contacted, and the contact position α is moved straight to the left. Turn the handle to the left in proportion to the amount of movement of the contact position α.

Right spin operation: The finger is brought into contact with the right position α14 on the left side detector 2al, and the left button 11 is pressed as it is.

Left spin operation: The finger is brought into contact with the left position αl1 on the left side detector 2al, and the left button 11 is pressed as it is.

Accelerator operation: The finger is brought into contact with the central position αr5 on the right side detection portion 2ar, and the contact position α is moved straight upward. The accelerator is opened in proportion to the amount of movement of the contact position α.

Brake operation: The finger is brought into contact with the central position αr5 on the right side detector 2ar, and the contact position α is moved straight downward. The brake is applied in proportion to the movement amount of the contact position α.

Shift-up operation: Finger on the right side detection unit 2a
Touch the right position αr4 on r, and then right button 1
Press r.

Shift-down operation: Finger on right side detection unit 2a
Touch the left position αr1 on r and right button 1
Press r.

[0073]

According to the present invention, a large number of input operations can be performed by a simple operation using only a single button. Also,
The number of buttons does not limit the sophistication of the input device. Further, in order to perform a quantitative input operation, it is not necessary to provide a device such as a lever or a dial in the input device in addition to the button.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a system configuration diagram of an input device according to claim 1. (B) is a perspective view of a button provided with a detection unit and a contact. (C) is a figure which shows the relationship between the coordinate of a detection part, and the contact position of a finger.

FIG. 2A is a sectional view of a button provided with a detection unit and a contact. (B) is a sectional view showing a state where the center of the button is pressed. (C) and (d) are sectional views showing a state where the end of the button is pressed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a command determining means in the input device according to the first aspect.

FIG. 4A is a flow chart of a program example in the case where the command determining means in the input device according to claim 1 regards the positions on the detection unit as four positions.
FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the division of positions on the detection unit.
(C) is a table summarizing the operation of this program.

FIG. 5A is a flow chart of a program example when the command determining means in the input device according to claim 1 regards the position on the detection unit as one position.
(B) is a figure which shows the relationship between the division | segmentation of the position on a detection part, and a coordinate. (C) is a table summarizing the operation of this program.

FIG. 6A is a flow chart of a program example in the case where the command determining means in the input device according to claim 1 regards the position on the detection unit as three positions.
FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the division of positions on the detection unit.
(C) is a table summarizing the operation of this program.

FIG. 7A is a flow chart of a program example in the case where the command determining means in the input device according to claim 1 regards the position on the detection unit as two positions.
FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the division of positions on the detection unit.
(C) is a table summarizing the operation of this program.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a command determining means in the input device according to the second aspect.

FIG. 9A is a flowchart of a program example of a command determining means in the input device according to claim 2;
FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the division of positions on the detection unit and the moving order of the contact position of the finger. (C) is a table summarizing the operation of this program.

FIG. 10A is a system configuration diagram of the input device according to claim 3; (B) is a figure which shows the movement of the contact position of a finger, and the relationship with the movement amount.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a command determining means in the input device according to the third aspect.

FIG. 12A is a flowchart of a program example of a command determining means in the input device according to claim 3;
(B) is a figure which shows the movement of the contact position of a finger, and the relationship with the movement amount. (C) is a table summarizing the operation of this program.

FIG. 13A is a perspective view of a computer mouse according to the first embodiment. (B) is the figure which looked at the front part of this equipment from the upper part.

FIG. 14 is a system configuration diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a table summarizing the operation method of the computer mouse in the first embodiment.

16A is a perspective view of the game machine controller according to the second embodiment. FIG. (B) is a perspective view of the device.

FIG. 17 is a system configuration diagram of a second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a table summarizing the operation method of the game machine controller according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 button 1a Button back projection 2a Detection unit of position detection means 2b Control unit of position detecting means 3 contacts 4 Command determining means 5 Adjustment amount calculation means 101 computer mouse body 102 computer body 201 Controller main body for game consoles 202 Game console body 203 Game software program A position signal Ap position code At movement order i Column number of moving order B contact signal C control command D adjustment amount α Touch position of fingers x X-axis coordinate value y Y-axis coordinate value x0 X-axis coordinate origin y0 Y-axis coordinate origin xh X axis coordinate upper limit yh Upper limit of Y-axis coordinate xp X-axis coordinate position delimiter yp Y-axis coordinate position delimiter dx X-axis movement amount dy Y-axis movement amount

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Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A single button includes position detecting means for detecting a contact position of a finger and outputting a position signal, and a contact for outputting a contact signal when the button is pressed. And an instruction determining means for determining an instruction based on a combination of the contact signal and the contact signal. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the command determining means records the moving order of the positions of the fingers touching the buttons, and the command is determined based on a combination of the recording and the contact signal. apparatus. 3. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising adjustment amount calculation means for calculating a movement amount of a position of a finger touching the button and outputting the adjustment amount.