JP2003233456A - Pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointing device which is improved in operability thereof, by enabling instructions of minute ranges and preventing a cursor from moving even if a finger is taken off. <P>SOLUTION: The pointing device 1 is provided with a magnet 2 cooperating with an operation part 8, a magnetic reaction element 3 for detecting a magnetic field formed by the magnet 2 to output it as a voltage value, and a coordinate signal generating means 4 for generating a coordinate signal from the output variation of the reaction element 3. The pointing device 1 comprises a contact detection means 5 for detecting the contact of the finger to an operation part 2; and a resetting means 6 for resetting the voltage value outputted by the reaction element 3 as a new reference voltage for computing the output variation of the reaction element 3, when the voltage value varies and the contact detection means 5 does not detect the contact of the finger. <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 a pointing device that facilitates pointer operation of a display device, and more particularly to a pointing device that has improved operability and functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one of coordinate input devices for instructing movement of a cursor on a display screen of a computer or the like,
A pointing device utilizing magnetic change has been proposed.

A pointing device utilizing magnetic changes has advantages of good operability and relatively small size and light weight. Therefore, the pointing device is used as a control command device for various electric equipments in addition to the use as a coordinate input device for a computer. The uses of are also expanding. For example, it is expected as a control command device in various situations such as machine tools, robots, transportation machines, portable information terminals such as mobile phones, medical equipment, and game machines.

FIG. 12 is a basic configuration diagram of a pointing device utilizing magnetic change in the conventional example.

Generally, a pointing device 101 using magnetic change has a magnet 2 which cooperates with an operating portion and a magnetic reaction element S which is a detecting means for detecting the inclination of the magnet 2.
1, S2, S3 and S4.

Magnetically responsive elements S1, S2, S3 and S4
Is an element that converts a magnetic field into a voltage and outputs the voltage.
Implemented in 3. As shown in FIG. 12, the magnetically responsive elements S1, S2, S3 and S4 are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to a predetermined reference point. That is, the magnetic conversion elements S1 and S2 are arranged in the X direction, and the magnetic conversion elements S3 and S4 are arranged in the Y direction.

The magnet 2 has a cylindrical shape and forms a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface. The magnet 2 is arranged above the substrate 53 so that the normal line at the center point of the bottom surface of the magnet 2 penetrates perpendicularly to the substrate 53 at the above-mentioned reference point.

In the state where the magnet 2 is not operated, that is, when the bottom surface of the magnet 2 is kept parallel to the substrate 53, the magnet 2 is connected to each magnetic reaction element S1, S2, S.
3 and S4 are spaced at substantially equal intervals. Hereinafter, in this specification, the position of the magnet 2 at this time is referred to as a return position. When the magnet 2 is in the return position, the magnetic fields applied to the magnetic reaction elements S1, S2, S3 and S4 are substantially equal, and therefore the voltage values output by the magnetic reaction elements are also equal. Hereinafter, in this specification, the voltage value at this time is referred to as a reference voltage.

When the magnet 2 is manipulated and tilted, the magnetic fields applied to the magnetic reaction elements S1, S2, S3 and S4 change, so that the voltage value output by each magnetic reaction element changes. For example, when the magnet 2 is tilted in the positive direction of the X direction, the output voltage of the magnetic reaction element S1 becomes larger than the output voltage of the magnetic reaction element S2. That is, a voltage value deviated from the reference voltage is output from the magnetic reaction element. A coordinate signal is calculated based on this output change.

Generally, in a pointing device utilizing magnetic change, even when the pointing device is not operated due to mechanical variations of the magnet or the magnetic reaction element or the magnet not returning to the return position accurately, output is made. Although the change is minute, it may occur. Therefore, when the magnetically responsive element outputs a voltage value within a certain range centered on the reference voltage, processing for invalidating the output is executed. Less than,
In this specification, this range is referred to as an output invalid range.

[0011]

After the operation of the pointing device utilizing the magnetic change is completed, the magnet returns to the position where the magnets are equidistant from each other, that is, the return position. However, there may be some deviation from the previous initial position due to mechanical variations. Therefore, conventionally, if there is no change in the voltage value output by the magnetically responsive element for a predetermined period of time, a process of resetting the voltage value at this time as a new reference voltage is also executed.

However, when the user operates the pointing device at a constant speed (that is, a constant inclination), the voltage value output during this period does not change. Therefore, if this operation continues for a certain period of time, the above-mentioned resetting process operates, so that the voltage value at this time is reset as an "erroneous reference voltage" deviating from the original reference voltage. As a result, even when the user finishes operating the pointing device and releases his / her finger from the operating section, the wrong reference voltage causes movement data in the direction opposite to the direction in which the user used to operate immediately before. The cursor on the display moves automatically. In addition to this, when the finger is released, the operation unit may vibrate due to its own weight or the like, and as a result, the cursor on the display may move.

On the other hand, since the output of the magnetic reaction element is invalid within the output invalid range centered on the reference voltage, there is a problem that the responsiveness is poor at the start of operation of the pointing device. In particular, it is difficult to generate a coordinate signal that follows a minute operation.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.
(EN) It is possible to provide a pointing device with improved operability in which a minute range can be designated and the cursor does not move even when a finger is released.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a magnet that cooperates with an operating portion, a magnetic reaction element that detects a magnetic field formed by the magnet and outputs it as a voltage value, A pointing device having a coordinate signal generating means for generating a coordinate signal from an output change of the magnetically responsive element is provided with a means for detecting whether or not a finger touches the operating portion. Then, if the contact of the finger is not detected despite the change in the voltage value output by the magnetic reaction element,
The pointing device was not operated, and the current reference voltage was shifted due to the above factors and changes in the mechanical balance of each element.Therefore, the voltage value at this time was changed to the output change of the magnetic reaction element. Is reset as a new reference voltage for calculating Then, a predetermined range centered on this new reference voltage is defined as an output invalid range of the magnetic reaction element.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the pointing device according to the present invention, showing the relationship between the outputs of the magnet and the magnetic reaction element in the pointing device.

FIG. 1 (a) shows the relationship between the position of the magnet of the pointing device and the output voltage of the magnetic reaction element before the magnet is operated, as indicated by the black circles in FIG. 1 (a). It is assumed that a return position of the magnet, a reference voltage corresponding to the return position, and an output invalid range centered on the reference voltage are defined.

Here, it is assumed that when the operation of the pointing device is completed and the user releases the finger from the operation unit, the return position of the magnet is displaced and the return position is different from the state shown in FIG. 1A. The relationship between the position of the magnet and the output voltage of the magnetic reaction element at this time is shown by a white circle in FIG. In the present invention, the voltage value output by the magnetic reaction element at this time is reset as a new reference voltage. Then, a new output invalid range is defined around this reference voltage. This makes it possible to avoid the problems that have occurred in the past.

FIG. 2 is a basic configuration diagram of the pointing device according to the present invention.

According to the present invention, the magnet 2 that cooperates with the operating portion 8, the magnetic reaction element 3 that detects the magnetic field formed by the magnet 2 and outputs it as a voltage value, and the coordinate based on the output change of the magnetic reaction element 3 are used. In the pointing device 1 including the coordinate signal generation means 4 for generating a signal, the contact detection means 5 for detecting the contact of a finger on the operation part 2 and the voltage value output from the magnetic reaction element 3 are changed, and the contact detection is performed. When the means 5 does not detect the touch of the finger, the resetting means 6 for resetting the voltage value output by the magnetic reaction element 3 as a new reference voltage for calculating the output change of the magnetic reaction element 3, Equipped with.

The pointing device 1 further includes output invalidating means 7 for setting a predetermined range centered on the reference voltage as an output invalidation range of the magnetic reaction element 3.

The coordinate signal generating means 4, the contact detecting means 5, the resetting means 6 and the output invalidating means 7 are constructed in a firmware format including a control microcomputer 10, for example.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pointing device capable of indicating a minute range and preventing the cursor from moving even when the finger is released.

[0024]

First, the structure of a pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of coordinate input operation of the pointing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the operating portion 8 is constructed on a support base 11 made of an elastic member such as rubber. As shown in FIG. 4B, by operating the finger in a desired direction, a corresponding coordinate signal is generated.

The pointing device according to the present embodiment includes a magnet 2 which cooperates with the operating portion 8, a magnetic reaction element 3 which detects a magnetic field formed by the magnet 2 and outputs it as a voltage value.
Equipped with.

The magnetic responsive element 3 is installed on the substrate 53, for example, as described with reference to FIG.

The coordinate signal generating means 4 of FIG. 2 for generating a coordinate signal from the output change of the magnetic reaction element 3 is realized in a firmware format including the control microcomputer 10 installed on the substrate 53.

In this embodiment, the operating portion 8 is made of a conductive material. The conductive operation unit 8 is provided with a control microcomputer 10 via a cable 21 which is also a conductive member.
Electrically connected to. The conductive member that connects the conductive operation unit 8 and the control microcomputer 10 is not limited to a cable-shaped member, and may be a film-shaped or leaf-spring-shaped member, for example.

When the user's finger touches the conductive operating section 8, the capacitance changes. In the present embodiment, the presence or absence of contact of the finger with the conductive operating portion 8 is determined based on this change in capacitance. The contact detection means 5 of FIG. 2 for detecting the contact of a finger on the operation unit 2 is realized by a firmware format including the control microcomputer 10 and detection hardware.

The contact detecting means 5 compares the electrostatic capacitance of the conductive operating section 8 with a reference value stored in the control microcomputer 10 to detect a change in the electrostatic capacitance of the conductive operating section 8. To do. If the change in the capacitance of the conductive operation unit 8 is larger than a predetermined value, it is determined that there is a finger contact, and if it is smaller than the predetermined value, it is determined that there is no finger contact.

Alternatively, the contact detecting means 5 may be realized by connecting an oscillating circuit to the conductive operating section 8 via a cable. In this case, a change in the electrostatic capacitance of the conductive operation unit 8 appears as a change in the output frequency of the oscillation circuit. Therefore, the change in the frequency is detected to determine whether or not the finger is touching.

Alternatively, an AC voltage may be applied to the conductive operating section 8 to detect a change in impedance to determine whether or not a finger is touching.

Further, in this embodiment, the resetting means 6 and the output invalidating means 7 shown in FIG.
And a firmware format including analog circuits. The voltage value output by the magnetic reaction element 3 changes,
When the contact detection unit 5 does not detect the finger contact, the resetting unit 6 sets the voltage value output by the magnetic reaction element 3 as a new reference voltage for calculating the output change of the magnetic reaction element 3. Reset. Then, the output invalidating means 7
Performs a process of setting a predetermined range around the reference voltage as an output invalid range of the magnetic reaction element 3.

As described above, the control microcomputer 10 has the coordinate signal generating means 4 for generating the coordinate signal from the output change of the magnetic reaction element 3 as in the conventional example.
Further, it includes contact detection means 5, resetting means 6 and output invalidation means 7. However, compared to the conventional pointing device, there is no significant change in structure, installation space, or weight.

The contact detecting means 5, the resetting means 6 and the output invalidating means 7 may be realized by a control microcomputer separate from the control microcomputer having the coordinate signal generating means 4.

Further, in the present embodiment, the operating portion 8 is formed of a conductive member, but a single electrostatic capacitance detecting sensor may be installed on the surface of the operating portion. In this case, the contact detection unit 5 determines that there is a finger contact when the change in the capacitance output by the capacitance detection sensor is larger than a predetermined value, and there is no finger contact when the change is smaller than the predetermined value. To do. Note that the capacitance detection sensor may be a known one, may have control hardware separately from the detection unit portion, and may be, for example, a commercially available one-chip product. Further, for example, the contact of a finger may be detected by using the method disclosed in JP-A-6-309094.

An operation flow of the pointing device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the pointing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step S101, the voltage value output from the magnetically responsive element is measured, and in step S102, the capacitance of the conductive operating portion is measured. The order of steps S101 and S102 may be reversed.

Next, at step S103, it is judged if the output of the magnetically responsive element has changed. If there is a change, the process proceeds to step S101, and if there is no change, the process proceeds to step S104. If the output of the magnetically responsive element is larger than the above-mentioned output invalid range, it is considered that there is a change.

In step S104, the output change of the magnetic reaction element is calculated from the voltage value output from the magnetic reaction element and the reference voltage, and the coordinate signal is calculated based on this output change.

In step S105, it is determined whether or not the electrostatic capacitance of the conductive operating section has changed. When there is a change, the process proceeds to step S108, and when there is no change, the process proceeds to step S106.

If it is determined in step S105 that the electrostatic capacitance of the conductive operating portion has not changed, there is no contact of the finger with the conductive operating portion, and therefore the reference voltage is reset in step S106. . That is, in step S106, the voltage value output by the magnetic responsive element is reset as a new reference voltage for calculating the output change of the magnetic responsive element.

In step S107, the output invalid range is defined around the new reference voltage.

When it is determined in step S105 that the electrostatic capacitance of the conductive operating portion has changed, there is contact of the finger with the conductive operating portion, so the flow proceeds to step S108. In step S108, it is determined whether the output change of the magnetically responsive element is included in the output invalid range. If included, the process returns to step S101, and if not included, step S1
Go to 09.

In step S109, the coordinate output signal is output to the computer. By passing through step S108, output of unnecessary coordinate signals due to mechanical variations of the magnets or magnetic reaction elements is avoided.

As described above, the pointing device according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with means for detecting the presence / absence of contact of the finger with the operating portion, and even if the voltage value output by the magnetic reaction element changes. If no finger contact is detected regardless of this, the voltage value at this time is reset as a new reference voltage for calculating the output change of the magnetic reaction element, and a predetermined range centered on this new reference voltage is set. Since it is defined as the output invalid range of the magnetically responsive element, it is possible to specify a minute range, and the cursor on the display does not move even if the finger is released.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the pointing device according to the modification of the embodiment of the present invention.

In this modification, the output invalidating means 7 is arranged so that the output invalidating range is narrower when the contact detecting means 5 of FIG. 2 detects the contact of the finger than when it does not detect the contact of the finger. To operate.

As shown in FIG. 6, when it is determined in step S105 that the capacitance of the conductive operating portion has changed, there is contact of the finger with the conductive operating portion.
Proceed to 201.

In step S201, the output invalid range is made narrower than when the finger contact is not detected. Then, the process proceeds to step S108.

In step S108, it is determined whether or not the output change of the magnetically responsive element is included in the output invalid range. If it is included, the process proceeds to step S203.

In step S203, the output invalid range when the contact of the finger is not detected, that is, the original output invalid range is returned, and the process returns to step S101.

After the coordinate output signal is output to the computer in step S109, it is returned to the output invalid range when the finger contact is not detected, that is, the original output invalid range in step S202.

According to this modification, the output invalid range when the touch of a finger is detected is narrowed, so that even when the operating portion of the pointing device is slightly tilted, a coordinate signal that follows a minute operation is generated. Therefore, the operation feeling is further improved.

As another modification, power supply control means for supplying power to the magnetic reaction element 3 only when the contact detection means 5 of FIG. 2 detects contact of a finger may be further provided. It is also possible to reduce the power consumption of the pointing device.

Next, a modified example of finger contact detection in the pointing device of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 7 is a principle block diagram of a pointing device in a modified example of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a pointing device in a modified example of the present invention. In addition, FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a pointing device in a modified example of the present invention.

The pointing device 1 includes a magnet 2 that cooperates with the operating portion, and magnetic reaction elements S1, S2, S3 and S4 that are detection means for detecting the inclination of the magnet 2.
Be equipped with. In particular, in this embodiment, the magnet 2 that cooperates with the operation unit is movable in the vertical direction.

The magnet 2 cooperates with the operating portion 8 to form a magnetic field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface. The bottom surface of the magnet 2 is preferably circular, but may be a regular polygon having a large number of angles. In addition, when the bottom surface of the magnet 2 is circular, the overall shape of the magnet 2 is preferably cylindrical, but it is sufficient if the bottom surface is circular and a magnetic field is formed in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface. For example, it may be conical.

Magnetically responsive elements S1, S2, S3 and S4
Is an element that detects the magnetic field formed by the magnet 2 and outputs it as a voltage value, and is mounted on a substrate 53 that is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the magnet 2. As shown in FIG. 7, each magnetic responsive element S1,
S2, S3, and S4 are arranged point-symmetrically at the intersection point P between the normal line at the center point of the bottom surface of the magnet 2 and the substrate 53. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the magnetic conversion elements S1 and S2 are arranged in the X direction, and the magnetic conversion elements S3 and S4 are arranged in the Y direction.

Here, a general coordinate signal generating means for generating a coordinate signal from the output change of the magnetic reaction element will be briefly described. FIG. 10 is a circuit configuration diagram of a circuit for generating coordinate signals of the pointing device.

Each magnetic reaction element S1, S2, S3 and S
The output of No. 4 is input to the control microcomputer 10 via the differential amplifier circuit shown in FIG. In the pointing device shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the voltages output by the magnetic reaction elements S1 and S2 are differentially amplified and input to the control microcomputer 10 as the output of the X-direction component. Similarly, the voltages output from the magnetic reaction elements S3 and S4 are differentially amplified and input to the control microcomputer 10 as the output of the Y-direction component. The control microcomputer 10 outputs the X-direction component and Y
From the output of the direction component, X according to the operation amount and the operation direction
A Y2-dimensional coordinate signal is generated and output to the host computer.

R6X, R7X and R6Y
And R7Y are voltage dividing resistors. That is, assuming that the range of the voltage input to the control microcomputer 10 is 0 to 5V, if the magnet 2 is not operated, the voltage value is adjusted so that 2.5V is applied to the control microcomputer 10 as a reference voltage. .

When the magnet 2 is not operated, that is, when the bottom surface of the magnet 2 is kept parallel to the substrate 3, the magnet 2 is connected to each magnetic reaction element S1, S2, S3.
And S4 are equally spaced. Therefore, since the magnetic fields applied to the magnetic reaction elements S1, S2, S3 and S4 are substantially equal, the voltage values output by the magnetic reaction elements are also equal. Therefore, each magnetic responsive element S1 and S
The output voltage of 2 is approximately 0V even when differentially amplified, and the voltage applied to the control microcomputer 10 is 2.5V.

On the other hand, when the magnet 2 is operated and tilted, the magnetic fields applied to the respective magnetic reaction elements S1, S2, S3 and S4 change, so that the voltage value output by each magnetic reaction element changes. For example, when the magnet 2 is tilted in the positive direction of the X direction, the output voltage of the magnetic reaction element S1 becomes larger than the output voltage of the magnetic reaction element S2. The output voltage of each magnetic reaction element S1 and S2 is differentially amplified, adjusted by a voltage dividing resistor, and then input to the control microcomputer 10.

Returning to FIGS. 7 to 9, in this embodiment, the magnet 2 is used.
A spring 9 as shown in FIG. 8 is provided as a vertical movement mechanism for vertically moving the. It is assumed that the magnet 2 can move vertically downward by, for example, 0.1 mm or more.

When the operating portion 8 is pushed down with a finger, the magnet 2 descends in the vertical direction and the magnetic reaction elements S1, S2, S3 and S.
The output changes of 4 all tend to increase at the same time. On the other hand, when the finger is released from the operation unit 8, the magnet 2 rises in the vertical direction by the restoring force of the spring 9, and the output changes of the magnetic reaction elements S1, S2, S3 and S4 all tend to decrease at the same time. Therefore, by detecting whether the output changes of the magnetic reaction elements S1, S2, S3, and S4 tend to increase or decrease at the same time, it is possible to determine whether the finger is attached to or detached from the operation unit.

Here, a circuit for detecting the contact of the finger with the operating portion from the change in the output of the magnetic reaction element will be described. Figure 1
FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram for detecting a finger contact of a pointing device in a modified example of the present invention.

In addition to the circuit for generating the coordinate signal of FIG. 10 described above, a circuit for contact detection of a finger as illustrated in FIG. 11 is configured.

Magnetically responsive elements S1, S2, S3 and S4
Each output of the control microcomputer 10 via a known amplifier circuit.
Connected to. Control microcomputer 10 for detecting finger contact
The connection port of is different from the above-mentioned port for coordinate signal generation.

The control microcomputer 10 controls each magnetic reaction element S
The outputs of 1, S2, S3 and S4 are constantly observed. When the output changes of the magnetic reaction elements all tend to increase at the same time, it is determined that the finger touches the operation unit 8 and the operation unit 8 is pressed. The information in which the output change tends to increase is stored in, for example, a memory in the control microcomputer 10. Then, when the output changes of the magnetic reaction elements all tend to decrease at the same time after the increase of the output change, it is determined that the finger is separated from the operation unit 8 and the pressing of the operation unit 8 is completed. After the decreasing tendency of the output change of the magnetic reaction element, the output change disappears. Then, if there is no change in the output for a predetermined period of time, each process of resetting the reference voltage and defining the output invalid range in the above-described embodiment is executed.

Regarding the coordinate signal generation and the finger contact detection, the relation between the output changes of the magnetic reaction elements S1, S2, S3 and S4 and the operation state of the operation section 8 is summarized in Table 1.
It is as follows.

[0077]

[Table 1]

As described above, according to this modification,
Even in a pointing device utilizing magnetic change having magnetically responsive elements arranged symmetrically as in the conventional example,
The contact of the finger with the operation unit can be easily detected from the change in the output of the magnetic reaction element. Therefore, the processing according to the presence / absence of the finger contact as in the above-described embodiment can be realized.
The control microcomputer for detecting the contact of the finger may be provided separately from the control microcomputer for generating the coordinate signal.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a pointing device that uses magnetic changes,
A means for detecting the presence or absence of contact with the finger operation part is provided, and if the finger contact is not detected despite the change in the voltage value output by the magnetic reaction element, the voltage value at this time is used for the magnetic reaction. It is reset as a new reference voltage for calculating the output change of the element, and a predetermined range centered on this new reference voltage is defined as the output invalid range of the magnetic reaction element, so that a minute range can be designated. The cursor does not move when you release your finger.

Further, according to the present invention, since the contact detection function, the resetting function and the output invalidation function are realized by using the control microcomputer having the coordinate signal generating function in the pointing device, even when compared with the conventional pointing device. , Structure, installation space, weight has not changed much. In particular, if the operation part is made of a conductive member or the operation part is provided with a contact detection sensor and this and the control microcomputer are electrically connected by a conductive member, contact detection can be realized, so the structure is simple. is there. The contact detecting means, the resetting means, and the output invalidating means may be realized by using a control microcomputer that is separate from the control microcomputer having the coordinate signal generating means.

If the output invalidating means is operated so as to narrow the output invalidation range when the finger is in contact with the operation section as compared with when the finger is not in contact, the coordinate signal following the minute operation is obtained. Can be generated, and even a minute operation, which was difficult with a pointing device using magnetic change, can be realized without a feeling of strangeness.

Further, if power is supplied to the magnetic reaction element only when the contact of the finger is detected, the power consumption of the pointing device can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily detect the contact of the finger with the operating portion by using the change in the output of the magnetic reaction element.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of a pointing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a basic configuration diagram of a pointing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of coordinate input operation of the pointing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operating principle of the pointing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of a pointing device according to a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a principle configuration diagram of a pointing device in a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a pointing device according to a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a pointing device according to a modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a circuit configuration diagram of a circuit for generating a coordinate signal of a pointing device.

FIG. 11 is a circuit configuration diagram for detecting a finger contact of a pointing device in a modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a basic configuration diagram of a pointing device using magnetic change in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Pointing device 2 ... Magnet 3 ... Magnetically responsive element 4 ... Coordinate signal generating means 5 ... Contact detection means 6 ... Resetting means 7. Output invalidation means 8 ... Operation part 9 ... Spring 10 ... Control microcomputer

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takeshi Nishino             2-3-5 Higashigotanda 2-3-5, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo             Within Shitsutsu Component Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C001 CA00 CA06                 2F077 AA16 AA36 CC02 JJ08 JJ23                       UU06 UU13 VV02                 5B087 AA02 AA09 AB02 AD02 BC12                       BC13 BC19 BC26 BC34

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A magnet that cooperates with an operation unit, a magnetic reaction element that detects a magnetic field formed by the magnet and outputs the magnetic field as a voltage value, and a coordinate signal generation that generates a coordinate signal from an output change of the magnetic reaction element. In a pointing device including means, when a contact detection unit that detects a contact of a finger with the operation unit, a voltage value output by the magnetic reaction element changes, and the contact detection unit does not detect a contact of the finger. And a resetting means for resetting the voltage value output by the magnetically responsive element as a new reference voltage for calculating the output change of the magnetically responsive element. 2. The operation section is provided with a conductive section or a capacitance detection sensor on the surface thereof, and the contact detection means prevents contact of a finger when the change in the capacitance of the operation section is larger than a predetermined value. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that there is no finger contact when the value is smaller than the predetermined value. 3. A magnet that cooperates with an operating portion to form a magnetic field in a direction substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface, and a normal line at a center point of the bottom surface and the substrate on a board substantially parallel to the bottom surface. A pointing device comprising at least two sets of magnetically responsive elements, each of which is arranged point-symmetrically with respect to an intersection, and a coordinate signal generating means for generating a coordinate signal from an output change of the magnetically responsive element, A vertical movement mechanism that vertically moves the magnet, and a contact detection unit that detects that a finger touches the operation unit when the output changes of the magnetic reaction elements are all simultaneously increasing or decreasing at the same time, and A pointing device comprising: 4. The pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising an output invalidating unit that sets a predetermined range centered on the reference voltage as an output invalid range of the magnetic reaction element. 5. The pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply control unit that supplies power to the magnetic responsive element only when the contact detection unit detects a finger touch. . 6. A magnet that cooperates with a conductive operating unit, a magnetic reaction element that detects a magnetic field formed by the magnet and outputs the magnetic field as a voltage value, and a control that generates a coordinate signal from an output change of the magnetic reaction element. In a pointing device comprising a microcomputer, further comprising a conductive member for electrically connecting the conductive operation unit and the control microcomputer, the control microcomputer, from the change in the capacitance of the conductive operation unit of the finger A pointing device comprising contact detection means for detecting the presence / absence of contact with the conductive operation unit.