JP2004280513A - Trackball - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a trackball that gives the feel of using a joystick. <P>SOLUTION: The trackball comprises a restoration device that restores the rolling position of the ball 11 after rolling operation of the ball to give the feel of using the joystick. Preferably, the restoration device has a DC motor 15x for an X-axis that restores the rolling position of the ball with reference to an X-axis, and a DC motor 15y for a Y-axis that restores the rolling position of the ball with reference to a Y-axis orthogonal to an X-axis. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a trackball used as an input device of a computer. Here, the computer should be interpreted in a broad sense to include not only a personal computer but also various systems and devices including a computer such as a so-called car navigation system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A pointing device is an example of a computer input device. The pointing device is used for specifying a position on a display screen and inputting coordinate data. Pointing devices include a mouse, trackball, trackpad, and the like.
[0003]
The trackball has a structure in which a mouse is turned over, and an operator directly rotates the ball. Unlike a mouse, a trackball does not require space to move.
[0004]
A conventional trackball outputs a movement amount by rotation of the ball. That is, the ball is rotated until the destination is obtained on the display screen, and the ball is stopped when the destination is obtained. In a trackball, the speed of the movement of the ball can be freely determined by manual operation, so that it is easy to obtain a destination. An example of a trackball is disclosed in Patent Document 1.
[0005]
Another example of a computer input device is a joystick. The joystick outputs a moving amount according to an angle at which a lever which is normally in a vertical state is tilted. That is, the lever is slightly tilted until the destination on the display screen is obtained, and when the destination is obtained, the lever is returned vertically. The joystick can generate a large moving distance only by keeping the lever tilted, so that less labor is required for moving the joystick.
[0006]
As described above, fine movement has an advantage over a trackball, and long-distance movement has an advantage over a joystick.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-282888
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a trackball has a problem that labor is large because it is necessary to keep rotating the ball to obtain a long distance movement. On the other hand, it is difficult to obtain a destination accurately with a joystick, and when the location does not match, it is necessary to operate the lever many times.
[0009]
Thus, trackballs and joysticks each have conflicting advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, when scrolling in all directions is required, such as a map on a display screen in a car navigation system, the conventional trackball or joystick alone has a problem in operability.
[0010]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a trackball capable of giving a joystick operation feeling.
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a trackball that can selectively use the advantages of a joystick.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, a ball (11) that can be rotated and a restoring device (13x, 14x, 15x, 16x, 13y, 14y, 15y, which restores the rotational position of the ball after the rotation is performed) 16y) to provide a trackball characterized by having a joystick operation feeling.
[0013]
The restoration device may restrict rotation of the ball with respect to two axes intersecting each other.
[0014]
The restoring device includes an X-axis motor (15x) for restoring the rotational position of the ball with respect to the X-axis, and a Y-axis motor (15y) for restoring the rotational position of the ball with respect to a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis. May be included.
[0015]
Each of the X-axis motor and the Y-axis motor may restrict a rotatable angle of the ball to a predetermined angle.
[0016]
A trackball mode using the rotation angle of the ball and a joystick mode using whether the rotation of the ball is at a predetermined angle may be provided.
[0017]
A mode switch (19) for switching between the trackball mode and the joystick mode may be included.
[0018]
Switching between the trackball mode and the joystick mode may be performed in association with the state of the ball.
[0019]
The symbols in the parentheses are provided for easy understanding, are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The trackball according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0021]
As shown, the trackball 10 has a ball 11. The ball 11 is held by the housing 9 so as to be rotatable in all directions. The upper portion of the ball 11 protrudes upward from a circular opening (not shown) formed on the upper surface of the housing 9. Therefore, it is possible for the operator to rotate the ball 11 from outside the housing 9.
[0022]
On the outer periphery of the ball 11, an X-axis torque transmitting roller 14x having an X-axis rotation shaft 13x and a Y-axis rotation shaft 13y extending in directions (Y direction and X direction) perpendicular to the orthogonal radius, respectively, and a Y axis The torque transmission roller 14y is in contact. An X-axis DC motor 15x is provided at one end of the X-axis rotation shaft 13x, and a Y-axis DC motor 15y is provided at one end of the Y-axis rotation shaft 13y.
[0023]
The description will be continued with reference to FIG. 4 in addition to FIGS.
[0024]
The X-axis DC motor 15x is driven by an X-axis motor driver 16x, and the Y-axis DC motor 15y is driven by a Y-axis motor driver 16y. The movement amount, that is, the rotation amount of the ball 11 is detected by the ball rotation detection unit 12. A signal indicating the amount of movement of the ball 11 is sent from the ball rotation detection unit 12 to the control unit 17. The control unit 17 can be realized by, for example, a microcomputer. In response to the signal indicating the amount of movement of the ball 11, the control unit 17 sends an X-axis motor drive command and a Y-axis motor drive command to the X-axis motor driver 16x and the Y-axis motor driver 16y, respectively, as described later. Then, the drive of the X-axis DC motor 15x and the Y-axis DC motor 15y is controlled.
[0025]
Further, the rotation speed of the X-axis DC motor 15x is detected by the X-axis motor rotation detection unit 18x and sent to the control unit 17. The number of rotations of the Y-axis DC motor 15y is detected by the Y-axis motor rotation detector 18y and sent to the controller 17.
[0026]
The case 9 of the trackball 10 is provided with a mode changeover switch 19. When the mode change switch 19 is operated, it sends a mode change signal to the control unit 17. In response to the mode switching signal, the control unit 17 selects one of a mode using the rotation angle of the ball 11, that is, a trackball mode, and a mode using whether the rotation of the ball 11 is at a predetermined angle, that is, a joystick mode. Select The trackball mode and the joystick mode will be described later in detail.
[0027]
Anyway, the combination of the X-axis rotating shaft 13x, the X-axis torque transmitting roller 14x, the X-axis DC motor 15x, and the X-axis motor driver 16x operates as a first driving unit for rotating the ball 11 in the X direction. Similarly, a combination of the Y-axis rotating shaft 13y, the Y-axis torque transmitting roller 14y, the Y-axis DC motor 15y, and the Y-axis motor driver 16y operates as a second driving unit that rotates the ball 11 in the Y direction. .
[0028]
The above-mentioned trackball 10 is connected as a pointing device to a car navigation system (PC) 20, which is a kind of personal computer. The car navigation system 20 is a system that displays a current position on a map screen of a vehicle-mounted computer and guides a route to a destination. The car navigation system 20 normally displays a map on a display screen. When the operator rotates the ball 11 of the trackball 10, the pointer (cursor) on the map is continuously moved in any direction by 360 degrees as in the case of the mouse, and the map is displayed on the display screen. It can be moved (shifted) continuously.
[0029]
The operation of the control unit 17 will be described also with reference to FIG.
[0030]
At step SA1 following the start, it is determined whether or not the joystick mode is selected. If it is determined that the joystick mode has not been selected, the process proceeds to step SA2 to perform the operation in the trackball mode. In the operation in the trackball mode, the trackball 10 performs the same operation as a normal trackball. That is, the rotation of the ball 11 is detected by the rotation detector 12 and sent to the controller 17. In practice, the operator rotates the ball 11 until a desired movement is performed on the display screen, and stops the ball when the movement is completed. Since the rotation speed of the ball 11 can be freely determined by manual operation, the intended movement can be easily realized. Therefore, when the amount of movement on the display screen is small, it is preferable that the mode changeover switch 19 causes the control unit 17 to select the trackball mode.
[0031]
If it is determined in step SA1 that the camera is in the joystick mode, the flow advances to step SA3 to perform the operation in the joystick mode. In the joystick mode, the rotatable angle of the ball 11 is suppressed to ± θ by the X-axis DC motor 15x and the Y-axis DC motor 15y. That is, when no force is applied, the ball 11 is at a predetermined rotation position, that is, at a position of 0 degree, but the ball 11 can rotate from the predetermined rotation position to a maximum of θ degrees together with the load. In addition, when the load is removed, the ball 11 is returned to the predetermined rotation position by the X-axis DC motor 15x and the Y-axis DC motor 15y. In this manner, the direction of rotation is centered on 0 degree at which no force is applied to the ball 11, and the ball 11 rotates in a range of θ degrees in all directions with the applied force, and the ball 11 can be rotated as if the lever of the joystick is tilted. it can. That is, in the joystick mode, the trackball 10 performs the same operation as a well-known joystick, and gives a sense of operation of the joystick. Therefore, when the amount of movement on the display screen is long, it is preferable to make the control unit 17 select the joystick mode by the mode changeover switch 19. When in the joystick mode, the first and second driving means together function as a restoration device for restoring the rotational position of the ball 11.
[0032]
Of course, the rotation of the ball 11 in the joystick mode is performed not only in the X and Y directions but also in all other directions. That is, only by restricting the rotation of the ball 11 in the X axis and the Y axis, it is possible to give the operator a joystick-like operational feeling in the X direction, the Y direction, and any diagonal directions intersecting them. it can.
[0033]
In step SA4, the PC movement output value and the motor torque value are read from the joystick dedicated table (not shown). In step SA5, it is determined whether or not the accumulated movement value has exceeded the joystick control range. If the accumulated movement value does not exceed the joystick control range, the process returns to step SA1. When the accumulated movement value exceeds the control range of the joystick, the process proceeds to step SA6, performs the joystick wall operation described below, and then returns to step SA1.
[0034]
The rotation is regulated by the X-axis DC motor 15x and the Y-axis DC motor 15y so that the rotation angle of the ball 11 does not go beyond the range of ± θ, but the X-axis torque transmission roller 14x and the Y-axis torque A force higher than the frictional force between the transmission roller 14y and the ball 11 cannot be controlled. Therefore, when the rotation angle becomes equal to or more than the rotation angle ± θ, that is, when the angle exceeds the control range of the joystick, a wall signal indicating that fact is generated to notify the operator that the rotation is outside the control range. That is, in step SA6, the joystick wall operation is performed in response to the wall signal, and the operator can recognize that the joystick has exceeded the control range by, for example, applying vibration or changing the moving amount of the screen. .
[0035]
If water, oil, or the like adheres to the ball 11, the possibility that the X-axis torque transmission roller 14x and the Y-axis torque transmission roller 14y slip will increase. Therefore, it is preferable to constantly monitor the presence or absence of a slip and perform slip control described below.
[0036]
In the slip control, based on the output of the ball rotation detection unit 12, the output of the X-axis motor rotation detection unit 18x, and the output of the Y-axis motor rotation detection unit 18y, the X-axis torque transmission roller 14x and the Y-axis torque transmission roller 14y The control unit 17 constantly checks the presence or absence of a slip with the ball 11. When the control unit 17 detects the occurrence of a slip, the control voltage of each motor is reduced by the next control, and the presence or absence of the slip is detected again. By repeating this, the control voltage is such that no slip occurs. At the point in time when the control is such that no slip occurs, the control unit 17 returns the control voltage of each motor to the standard voltage.
[0037]
In the above description, the mode switch 19 is used to switch between the trackball mode and the joystick mode. However, the mode may be switched between the trackball mode and the joystick mode in relation to the state of the ball.
[0038]
In the latter example, when the moving distance of the ball 11 per unit time exceeds a specified value, the mode is shifted from the trackball mode to the joystick mode. In the joystick mode, when the operation angle of the ball 11 has been 0 degree for a certain period of time or when the rotation has been repeated to 0 degree within a unit time, the operation returns to the trackball mode.
[0039]
In another example of the latter, when the rotation of the ball 11 is repeated twice in a short time in the trackball mode, the mode is shifted to the joystick mode. In the joystick mode, when the rotation of the ball 11 is repeated twice between "0 degree and several degrees" within a short time, the mode is returned to the trackball mode. Further, the mode may be changed when the ball 11 is operated at an operation speed such as a double click of a mouse.
[0040]
As described above, the preferred embodiment has been described, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above description, a case in which a trackball is used as an in-vehicle pointing device used in a car navigation system is described as an example. However, places such as sightseeing spots, city halls, post offices, etc. It can also be used to select a menu selection screen of a computer provided in the computer. It can also be used on personal computers other than car navigation systems. This trackball is also suitable for computer games.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a trackball capable of giving a joystick operation feeling can be obtained. Operation can be selectively used, and improvement in operability can be expected.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a trackball according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the trackball shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the trackball shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the trackball according to the embodiment of the present invention together with a personal computer (car navigation system).
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control unit included in the trackball shown in FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
9 Housing 10 Trackball 11 Ball 12 Ball rotation detection unit 13x X-axis rotation shaft 13y Y-axis rotation shaft 14x X-axis torque transmission roller 14y Y-axis torque transmission roller 15x X-axis DC motor 15y Y-axis DC motor 16x X-axis motor driver 16y Y-axis motor driver 17 control unit 18x X-axis motor rotation detection unit 18y Y-axis motor rotation detection unit 19 Mode changeover switch 20 PC (car navigation system)

Claims (7)

A track ball including a ball that can be rotated and a restoring device that restores the rotated position of the ball after the rotation is performed, so that a joystick operation feeling is provided. 2. The trackball according to claim 1, wherein the restoring device restricts rotation of the ball with respect to two axes intersecting each other. The trackball according to claim 1, wherein the restoring device restores a rotational position of the ball with respect to an X axis, and restores a rotational position of the ball with respect to a Y axis perpendicular to the X axis. And a Y-axis motor. 4. The trackball according to claim 3, wherein each of the X-axis motor and the Y-axis motor regulates a rotatable angle of the ball to a predetermined angle. 5. 2. The trackball according to claim 1, wherein the trackball mode includes a trackball mode using a rotation angle of the ball and a joystick mode using whether or not the rotation of the ball is at a predetermined angle. Trackball. 6. The trackball according to claim 5, further comprising a mode switch for switching between the trackball mode and the joystick mode. 6. The trackball according to claim 5, wherein switching between the trackball mode and the joystick mode is performed according to a state of the ball.

Images