JP2004038264A - Track ball type input device and portable information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a track ball type input device capable of providing comfortable operability when selecting a menu in which items are arrayed in two orthogonal directions. <P>SOLUTION: The track ball type input device is provided with; a spherical input means having an exposed part with which a user can touch and rotating by the operation of the user; and a detection means for detecting the rotational quantity of the input means in the two orthogonal directions. The track ball type input device is also provided with: a touch feedback applying means for applying touch feedback to the user who operates the input means according to the rotation of the input means; and a cover part equipped with slits formed in the two orthogonal directions, and formed on the exposed part of the input means so that the exposed part can be covered. Thus, it is possible for the user to operate the input means only through the slits. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a so-called trackball-type input device, and more particularly to a trackball-type input device that restricts the rotation operation of a ball to two orthogonal directions and gives an operator a click feeling in the rotation in the two directions.
[0002]
The present invention also relates to a portable information terminal provided with the trackball type input device.
[0003]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Trackball-type input devices that can rotate in any direction are known as user input interfaces. In a trackball-type input device, a rotation detection encoder provided at the bottom of a ball detects an amount of rotation and a rotation direction by an operator touching an exposed portion of the ball as an operating body with a finger or the like to rotate the ball. I do. The detected rotation amount and direction are transmitted as an electric signal to the connected electronic device, and move by an amount transmitted in the direction in which the cursor or the like on the screen of the electronic device is transmitted.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
2. Description of the Related Art Mobile information terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), which have become widespread recently, require an operation of browsing and selecting a large number of discrete menu items along with miniaturization and high functionality. In general, in such a menu browsing / selecting operation, a moving direction of a cursor (or a selected item) by an input device may be one in a vertical direction and / or a horizontal direction or only two directions orthogonal to each other. Not a few.
[0005]
The trackball type input device, which has no restriction on the operation direction, can easily operate an arbitrary moving amount in an arbitrary direction, but on the other hand, because the ball rotates easily, only a specific moving amount in a specific direction. It is difficult to operate, and it is difficult to obtain feedback for discrete inputs such as menu selection as described above, and it is difficult to say that input operability is good.
[0006]
Therefore, for example, JP-A-2001-216085, JP-A-2001-255997, JP-A-2001-265528, and JP-A-2001-290596 disclose an encoder that contacts a ball and transmits rotation. A configuration is disclosed in which the outer periphery of the shaft is devised to give the operator a tactile sensation when the ball is rotated.
[0007]
However, in the configurations disclosed in the above publications, there is no restriction on the operation of rotating the ball, and the ball can be rotated in any direction as its original function. Even if the movement direction to be performed is limited to one direction or two directions orthogonal to each other, a click feeling is generated even when the ball is rotated in a direction other than the limited direction.
[0008]
If the operator can sense that the cursor has moved to the next item (or the next item has been selected) by obtaining a click feeling, the limited one or the above-described one is used. The click sensation that occurs when rotating in directions other than the two directions is unnecessary and even has the opposite effect. That is, when the moving direction is limited as in the above-described menu selection, it is preferable that the click feeling can be obtained only in the limited direction.
[0009]
Therefore, it is conceivable to restrict the rotation operation of the ball so that a click feeling can be obtained only when the ball is rotated in a predetermined direction. As a configuration for restricting the rotation operation of the ball in the trackball type input device, there is, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-161112. However, this configuration focuses on restricting the rotation operation of the ball to three directions at 120 ° intervals, and provides an appropriate click feeling in a menu selection where the moving direction is limited to the vertical direction and / or the horizontal direction. The rotation operation is not limited to one direction or two directions orthogonal to each other in order to provide the rotation.
[0010]
As described above, in the conventional trackball type input device, for example, in a menu selection screen in which items are arranged in one direction or two orthogonal directions employed in a portable information terminal or the like, the one direction or the two orthogonal directions is used. There is a problem that it is difficult to give a click feeling to the operator only for the rotation operation of.
[0011]
A jog dial type input device is also known as another user input device. Certainly, the jog dial type input device usually gives a click feeling according to the rotation angle, and therefore can easily input an arbitrary movement amount in one direction, up and down or left and right. Therefore, it can be said that it has good operability for discrete inputs such as menu selection.
[0012]
However, the jog dial type input device can only internally input a movement amount in one direction, and is difficult to expand in a two-dimensional direction. Therefore, operability in menu selection in which items are arranged in two orthogonal directions remains as a problem.
[0013]
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and provides a trackball-type input device capable of obtaining comfortable operability in menu selection in which items are arranged in two orthogonal directions. The purpose is to:
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
One embodiment of the present invention includes a spherical input unit having an exposed portion that can be touched by a user and rotating by an operation of the user, and a detecting unit that detects the amount of rotation of the input unit in two orthogonal directions. A trackball-type input device, comprising: a haptic feedback providing means for providing haptic feedback to a user operating the input means in accordance with rotation of the input means; and a slit provided in the two orthogonal directions. And a cover portion provided on the exposed portion so as to cover the exposed portion of the input device, wherein the user can operate the input device only through the slit. It is.
[0015]
In this embodiment, the spherical input means is, for example, a ball, the two orthogonal directions are, for example, XY directions, and the haptic feedback is, for example, a click feeling.
[0016]
According to this aspect, the rotation operation of the ball is restricted to two orthogonal directions, and a click feeling is given to the operator for the rotation in the two directions. Therefore, the rotation is performed in two orthogonal directions (that is, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction). A trackball-type input device suitable for menu selection in which items are arranged can be provided.
[0017]
Another aspect of the present invention is a portable information terminal including the trackball-type input device according to the one aspect, wherein the trackball-type input device includes the input unit, the detection unit, and the haptic feedback providing unit. , And a block including the cover portion, a block housing portion for housing the block so that the user can rotate the block around a vertical axis through the cover portion, and the user grips the portable information terminal with one hand. And a stopper for locking the rotation of the block at a predetermined position for the right hand and the left hand so that the slit has an angle that can be easily operated by the thumb of the hand holding the portable information terminal. It is a portable information terminal characterized by the following.
[0018]
According to this aspect, even if the user holds the portable information terminal with any hand, the direction of the slit can be changed to a direction that is easy to operate with the thumb of the hand holding the terminal. The operability of such a trackball input device is improved.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0020]
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1A is a simplified diagram of a trackball input device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Here, for the sake of convenience of explanation, a simplified configuration in which only the trackball input unit is provided in the housing 101 is shown. However, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the trackball type input device according to the present embodiment will be described. The 100 may include components other than the trackball input unit (for example, a button for clicking, a numeric keypad, an interface for connecting to another device, and the like). The trackball type input device 100 according to the present embodiment may be a part of a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA, or a single user input device used by being connected to a fixed information terminal such as a personal computer. It may be.
[0021]
The trackball input unit includes a ball 102 which is an operation body for inputting, and a cover 104 provided with a slit (groove) 103. As shown, the slits 103 are provided in two orthogonal directions. Since the operator can touch the ball 102 only through the slit 103, the rotation operation of the ball 102 is limited to two directions where the slit 103 is provided.
[0022]
That is, in the trackball type input device according to the present embodiment, the ball 102 rotates only in these two directions in actual operation. Therefore, by providing the slit 103 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, the rotation operation of the ball 102 can be limited to the XY directions.
[0023]
It is preferable that the housing 101 and the cover 102 formed integrally therewith are made of a flexible material such as a soft plastic, for example. FIG. 1 shows a case where the cover 104 is integrated with the housing 101 of the trackball input device 100. However, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the cover 104 is a separate component, The housing 101 may be assembled with, for example, an adhesive, a double-sided tape, or a screw. In this case, a detachable structure may be further adopted.
[0024]
In addition, it is preferable that the front and back surfaces of the cover 104 be subjected to a friction reduction process such as a Teflon (R) process. Thereby, the frictional force between the fingertip of the operator and the ball 102 is reduced, and the smooth rotation of the ball 102 is realized. Conversely, the surface of the ball 102 is preferably subjected to a friction increasing process such as a protein process. This makes it easier for the operator's fingertip to be caught on the ball 102. More preferably, the friction reduction / increase processing is employed at the same time.
[0025]
The slit width of the slit 103 is set so that at least a part of a fingertip of a human hand touches the ball 102, and the contact allows the operator to rotate the ball 102. However, in order to achieve the purpose of restricting the rotation operation of the ball to the two directions in which the slits 103 are provided, the slits are so wide that the operator can rotate the ball 102 in directions other than the direction in which the slits are provided. Width must not be adopted.
[0026]
In addition, FIG. 1A shows a case where the slit 103 is provided in a cross shape on the cover 104, but as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the operator can move the ball 102 through the slit 103 only in two orthogonal directions. The shape viewed from above may not be a cross shape, as long as the shape can be rotated. In addition, FIG. 1A shows a case where the slit 103 is provided only in the cover 104 portion, but as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the slit 103 is smoothly extended to the housing 101 portion, and The extended portion can be used as a guide for guiding the fingertip of the operator to the slit 103. This case is shown in FIG. Such an extension can be provided in any direction, and its length can be arbitrarily designed.
[0027]
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a flow of an electric signal in the trackball type input device 100. The trackball type input device 100 includes rotation detection encoders 201 and 202 and encoder shafts 203 and 204 connected to the encoders and in contact with the ball 102 to detect the rotation of the ball 102. The directions in which the encoder shafts 203, 204 are provided are orthogonal to each other. Here, for convenience, the rotation detection encoder 201 and the encoder shaft 203 are used for the X-axis direction, and the rotation detection encoder 202 and the encoder shaft 204 are used for the Y-axis direction.
[0028]
When the operator rotates the ball 102, the rotation is transmitted to the encoder shafts 203 and 204, and the encoder shafts 203 and 204 also rotate according to the rotation of the ball 102. In this manner, the rotation of the ball 102 is separated into rotation in the X-axis direction and rotation in the Y-axis direction.
[0029]
The rotations of the encoder shafts 203 and 204 are converted into electric signals representing the amounts of rotation by the rotation detection encoders 201 and 202, respectively, and transmitted to the microcontroller 205. The microcontroller 205 converts each rotation amount into a moving distance of the cursor (or other pointer) on the screen in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and outputs the distance to the outside of the apparatus. Here, the microcontroller 205 may be provided outside the trackball input device 100. If the trackball input device 100 is part of a portable information terminal, the output is transmitted to, for example, a main processing unit of the portable information terminal, and the trackball input device 100 is used as a single user input device. If so, for example, it is transmitted to the connected personal computer.
[0030]
The trackball input device 100 further includes a switch 206. In FIG. 2, the switch 206 is shown in a plan view for convenience, but the switch 206 is actually provided below the ball 102 as described later. Then, the entire ball 102 is pushed downward by the operator, and the ball 102 is pushed by the switch 206 to switch ON / OFF.
[0031]
The switch 206 is used, for example, for “clicking” or “deciding” a selected item on a menu screen. The output of the switch 206 is processed by the microcontroller 205 and output outside the device.
[0032]
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the internal structure of the trackball type input device 100. As shown in the figure, the encoder shafts 203 and 204 are provided so as to contact the ball 102 at the non-exposed portion thereof and to be orthogonal to each other. Here, the directions in which the encoder shafts 203 and 204 are provided generally correspond to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.
[0033]
The switch 206 is provided with a slight gap directly below the ball 102 with the switch surface facing upward. Here, in this embodiment, since the cover 104 has flexibility, as shown in FIG. 4, the operator presses the ball 102 together with the cover 104 downward with a fingertip to turn ON / OFF the switch 206. Can control. Here, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the cover 104 is rigidly made of a non-flexible material, and the width of the slit 103 is provided to a sufficient extent to allow the fingertip to enter, so that the operator can move only the ball 102 downward. It is also possible to adopt a structure that can be pressed. However, since the size of the fingertip varies from person to person, it can be said that the present embodiment in which the entire cover is pressed is a preferable mode.
[0034]
Further, the encoder shafts 203 and 204 are provided with mechanisms for giving a click feeling to the operator in accordance with the rotation of the ball 102, respectively. The tension balls 301, 302 are urged by tension springs 303, 304 directly upward with respect to the encoder shafts 203, 204, respectively. The encoder shafts 203, 204 have depressions 305, 306 respectively provided at corresponding positions on the outer periphery thereof to accommodate at least a part of the tension balls 301, 302, respectively.
[0035]
Here, FIG. 5 is also referred to. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a plane cut along AA shown in FIG. The tension balls 301 and 302 are in normal contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the encoder shafts 203 and 204, respectively. However, when the depressions 305 and 306 come just below by the rotation of the encoder shafts 203 and 204 (FIG. 5). State), a part of the recesses 305 and 306 respectively enter into the depressions 305 and 306 due to the upward biasing force of the tension springs 303 and 304. As the encoder shafts 203, 204 rotate further, the tension balls 301, 302 again come out of the recesses 305, 306, respectively, and come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the encoder shaft without the recesses.
[0036]
Here, the depths of the recesses 305 and 306 need to be such that smooth rotation of the encoder shafts 203 and 204 is not hindered when the tension balls 301 and 302 enter.
[0037]
Here, the shapes of the depressions 305 and 306 can be freely designed according to what kind of click feeling is desired to be given to the operator. For example, in FIG. 6, when the cross section is round as shown in FIG. 6A, a natural click feeling is obtained when the cross section is flat as shown in FIG. As described above, if the cross section is square, a hard click feeling can be given.
[0038]
Furthermore, it is preferable that the tactile feedback based on the click feeling is given as a unit of the movement between the items so that the operator can sense the movement between the items in the menu selection by the click feeling. Therefore, the number of depressions per circumference provided on the outer circumference of the encoder shafts 203 and 204 can be freely designed according to the setting of menu selection (for example, the moving distance between items). FIG. 7 shows an example of the arrangement of the depressions on the outer periphery of the encoder shaft. (A) shows one recess per circumference, (b) shows two depressions per circumference, and (c) shows an encoder shaft cross section when three depressions are provided per circumference. When a moving distance corresponding to one rotation of the encoder shaft is input, a click feeling of one time in (a), twice in (b), and three times in (c) is felt. Each is given to the operator. That is, when the moving distance corresponding to one rotation of the encoder shaft corresponds to one inter-item movement (moving to the next item), as shown in FIG. (Move to the item), as in (b), the number of depressions per round is set as in (c), as in (c), three times of movement between items (move to the next item). Preferably.
[0039]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the rotation operation of the ball is restricted in the X and Y directions, and the click feeling is given to the operator every time the selected item is moved. It is possible to provide a trackball type input device suitable for the selected menu.
[0040]
(Embodiment 2)
Next, a trackball input device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Regarding the trackball type input device according to the present embodiment, the same configuration as the device according to the above-described first embodiment will not be described repeatedly.
[0041]
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the trackball type input device is adopted as a part of a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone. More specifically, when the mobile information terminal is adopted as a part of a mobile information terminal in which it is assumed that the user holds the mobile information terminal with one hand and operates the trackball-type input device with the thumb of the holding hand. Is assumed.
[0042]
Due to the structure of the human hand, the horizontal axis in which the thumb can move is inclined with respect to the horizontal axis. Therefore, when the trackball type input device is operated with one thumb of the hand holding the portable information terminal as described above, the slit provided in the XY directions according to the present invention is aligned with the direction in which the thumb can easily move. From the horizontal and vertical directions is preferred from the viewpoint of operability.
[0043]
Therefore, the trackball-type input device according to the present embodiment tilts the slit provided in the XY directions from the horizontal and vertical directions of the terminal itself so as to be suitable for operation with the thumb, and moves the tilting direction of the portable information terminal with the right hand. It can be changed between holding with the left hand and holding with the left hand.
[0044]
The trackball type input device according to the present embodiment covers the exposed portion of the ball with a cover provided with a slit, restricts the ball line operation by the operator in the direction of the slit, and sets the operator in accordance with the rotation of the ball. This is similar to the device according to the first embodiment in that a click feeling is given to the device.
[0045]
Hereinafter, the configuration of the trackball input device according to the present embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8A, in the present embodiment, the ball 102, the rotation detection encoders 201 and 202, and the encoder shafts 203 and 204 are provided inside the inner rotor 801. The inner rotor 801 is rotatably housed in a cylindrical hole 802 provided in the housing 101 around a vertical axis. The cover 803 provided with the slit 103 is integral with the outer wall of the inner rotor 801.
[0046]
As shown in FIG. 8B, a concave rotor-side stopper 804 is provided on the outer wall of the inner rotor 801 (not shown in FIG. 8A for convenience). A pair of convex housing-side stopper portions 805 are provided at two positions on the inner periphery of the hole 802 at a position for the right hand and a position for the left hand, and lock the inner rotor 801 at each position. Also, in order to prevent the rotor-side stopper portion 804 from rotating rightward from the left-hand position and leftward from the right-hand position, that is, so that the maximum left and right rotational positions coincide with the right-hand position and the left-hand position. A convex portion 806 is provided on the inner circumference of 802. It should be noted that as is apparent to those skilled in the art, these illustrated shapes are merely examples of the present embodiment.
[0047]
FIG. 8B shows, as an example, a state where it is set at a position for the left hand. When the terminal 103 is gripped by the left hand, the slit 103 provided in the two orthogonal directions is inclined rightward from the vertical and horizontal directions of the housing itself. The operability when inputting in the horizontal direction of 103 is improved.
[0048]
As is clear from the figure, when the user grips the terminal with the right hand, the inner rotor 801 is rotated to a position where the slit 103 is inclined to the left, and the rotor-side stopper 804 is moved to the other housing-side stopper 805. To engage.
[0049]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the user holds the portable information terminal with any hand, the direction of the slit can be changed to a direction that is easy to operate with the thumb of the hand holding the terminal. Therefore, the operability of the trackball input device according to the present invention is improved.
[0050]
In the first and second embodiments, the configuration in which a click feeling is given to the rotation of the ball using the tension ball, the tension spring, and the recess provided in the encoder shaft has been described. As is apparent from the above description, if the rotation operation of the ball is restricted to two orthogonal directions and a click feeling can be given to the operator for the rotation in the two directions, the mechanism itself for giving the click feeling is arbitrary. Things are fine.
[0051]
For example, it is also possible to adopt a structure in which a convex portion is provided on the encoder shaft side and a tension plate is pressed against the portion. This structure has the advantages that the processing of the encoder shaft is easy and a simple configuration can be adopted.
[0052]
Instead of the above mechanical click feeling imparting method, described in Fukumoto and Sugimura, "ActiveClick which can add a click feeling to a touch panel"; IPSJ Interaction 2001 Transactions; March 2001; pp. 25-26. Alternatively, a click feeling may be provided by employing an “Active Click” method. In this case, there is an advantage that the presence or absence of the click and the unit rotation angle can be arbitrarily controlled.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a trackball-type input device capable of obtaining comfortable operability in menu selection in which items are arranged in two orthogonal directions.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a simplified diagram showing a trackball-type input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2B is a simplified diagram showing another aspect of the trackball input device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a flow of an electric signal in the trackball type input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an internal structure of the trackball input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a state before an operator presses a switch of the trackball input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a state where an operator is pressing a switch of the trackball input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the trackball input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along line AA shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing various shaft cross-sections related to the concave shape of the rotation detection encoder in the trackball input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing various shaft cross-sections related to the number of depressions of the rotation detection encoder in the trackball input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8A is a simplified cross-sectional view of a trackball input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
(B) It is a simplified top view of the trackball type input device concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 100 trackball-type input device 101 housing 102 ball 103 slit 104 cover 201, 202 rotation detection encoder 203, 204 encoder shaft 205 microcontroller 206 switch 301, 302 tension ball 303, 304 tension spring 305, 306 recess 801 inner rotor 802 hole 803 cover 804 rotor-side stopper 805 housing-side stopper 806 protrusion

Claims (10)

A spherical input means having an exposed portion that can be touched by a user and rotating by an operation by the user;
A trackball-type input device comprising: a detection unit configured to detect a rotation amount of the input unit in two orthogonal directions.
A haptic feedback providing unit that provides haptic feedback to a user operating the input unit in accordance with the rotation of the input unit;
Along with the slits provided in the two orthogonal directions, further comprising a cover portion provided on the exposed portion to cover the exposed portion of the input means,
A trackball type input device, wherein a user can operate the input means only through the slit. The trackball input device according to claim 1,
A trackball-type input device, further comprising a switch provided below the input unit and pressed by the input unit when the user presses down the input unit to switch on / off. The trackball-type input device according to claim 2,
The cover has flexibility,
A trackball-type input device, wherein a user pushes down the input unit together with the cover unit from above the cover unit when switching the switch unit. The trackball-type input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A trackball type input device, wherein a friction reduction treatment is performed on a front surface or a rear surface of the cover portion. The trackball input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A trackball-type input device, wherein a friction increasing treatment is performed on a surface of the input means. It is a portable information terminal provided with the trackball type input device of Claim 1, Comprising:
The trackball type input device,
A block including the input unit, the detection unit, the haptic feedback providing unit, and the cover unit,
A block housing unit for housing the block so that a user can rotate the block around a vertical axis through the cover unit;
When the user holds the portable information terminal with one hand, the rotation of the block is adjusted to a predetermined position for the right hand and the left hand so that the slit has an angle that is easy to operate with the thumb of the hand holding the portable information terminal. A portable information terminal, comprising: a stopper portion to be locked by the portable information terminal. The portable information terminal according to claim 6, wherein
A portable information terminal, further comprising a switch provided on a bottom surface of the block accommodating portion, the switch being turned on / off by being pressed by the block when the user presses down on the block. The portable information terminal according to claim 7, wherein
The cover has no flexibility,
A portable information terminal, wherein a user pushes down the entire block from above the cover when switching the switch means. The portable information terminal according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein
A portable information terminal, wherein a friction reduction treatment is performed on a front surface or a back surface of the cover portion. The portable information terminal according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein
A portable information terminal, wherein a friction increasing treatment is performed on a surface of the input means.

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