JP2006079453A - Camera-equipped mouse - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera-equipped mouse easily used when photographing an arbitrary photographic object and displaying an image thereof on a display. <P>SOLUTION: An X-axis movement detector 11 and a Y-axis movement detector 12 is disposed in an inside of a main body case 1, and click switches 4, 5 are disposed. A USB controller 14 is disposed inside the main body case so as to output a click signal and a signal showing a movement direction and a movement amount of the mouse as a USB signal. A lens 21 is installed to an aperture part formed in a part of the main body case 1, and an imaging element 22 receiving an image formed through the lens 21 and converting it into an electric signal is disposed inside the main body case 1. An image signal imaged by the imaging element 22 is outputted through the USB controller 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a mouse for a personal computer as a pointing device that performs pointing on a screen of a personal computer, and more particularly to a camera mouse with a built-in imaging camera (PC camera).

A mouse is always connected as a pointing tool by moving the pointer on the screen. In most cases, the user uses the mouse to perform work. As such a personal computer mouse, various types of structures such as a trackball type and an optical type are known in Patent Document 1 below.
JP 2001-125733 A

  By the way, when making a videophone call using a personal computer connected to the Internet, the user usually attaches a PC camera to the top of the display, etc., and connects it to the USB terminal of the personal computer, etc. The personal computer and the PC camera are used so that the other party's image is displayed on the display.

  However, a PC camera connected to a personal computer can be used relatively easily when making a videophone call, and although a captured image can be easily displayed on a display, Since it is fixed on the display or the like, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user to easily hold the part he wants to see and display on the display.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a camera-equipped mouse that can be easily used when shooting a portion that a user wants to see and displaying the image on a display. And

  The mouse with a camera of the present invention made to solve the above-mentioned problems is provided with a movement amount / movement direction detection means and a click signal generation means in the main body case, and a USB controller is provided. In a mouse that outputs a signal indicating a moving direction and a click signal as a USB signal, an imaging camera lens is disposed in an opening provided in a part of the main body case, and an image is formed through the lens inside the main body case. An image sensor that receives the converted image and converts it into an electrical signal is provided, and an image signal captured by the image sensor is output through the USB controller.

  Here, the lens of the imaging camera can be provided on the bottom surface of the main body case. A function switch can be provided on the upper surface of the main body case.

  The mouse with a camera having such a configuration outputs a pointing signal and an imaging signal captured by the imaging camera as the same USB signal, and therefore can be transmitted to a personal computer using a common USB cable and USB connector. Even a mouse with a camera can be easily connected. Further, since the power of the imaging camera is supplied from the personal computer through the USB cable in the same manner as the power of the mouse, an internal battery and a dedicated external power supply are not required, and the shape and weight of the mouse are not increased.

  When the mouse is used as a normal pointing device, the movement amount / movement direction signal and click signal detected and calculated according to the movement of the mouse are transmitted from the USB controller to the personal computer as a USB serial signal. A pointing operation is performed on the display screen in response to the signal.

  On the other hand, when the mouse is used as a PC camera, the user holds the mouse in his hand and looks at the part of the main body case, for example, the lens of the imaging camera disposed on the bottom surface, for example, his / her profile. If you want, point the bottom lens of your mouse to your side.

  At this time, the user is working with the mouse in his / her normal PC usage state, so the part he / she wants to see (for example, his / her profile) can be operated by simply lifting the mouse up. Can be taken. An imaging signal imaged by the imaging camera is transmitted to a personal computer through a USB controller and a USB cable. Since the USB controller usually has a built-in USB hub for setting a plurality of USB ports, the mouse pointing signal and the imaging signal can be transmitted to a personal computer through a common USB cable.

  In the personal computer, imaging display software is activated, an image signal sent from the mouse by the imaging display software is taken into the personal computer, and an image taken by the imaging camera of the mouse is displayed on the display. For example, a user who captures and displays his / her profile can easily see his / her profile on the display as if he / she looks in the mirror.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a plan view of a mouse with a camera, FIG. 2 is a bottom view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view thereof. This mouse with a camera has a body case 1 composed of an upper case 2 and a lower case 3, a trackball 10 as a movement amount / movement direction detecting means, an X-axis movement detector 11, a Y-axis movement detector 12, and a click Click switches 4 and 5 serving as signal generating means are provided, a USB controller 14 is provided, and an imaging camera 20 is attached to the bottom of the main body case 1 downward.

  The main body case 1 includes an upper case 2 that covers the top of the mouse and a lower case 3 that covers the bottom. Key tops 4a and 5a for the click switches 4 and 5 are movably mounted on the front upper part of the upper case 2, and push button switches 4b and 5b are arranged just below the key tops 4a and 5a. It is arranged to switch in accordance with the pressing operation of 5a.

  Furthermore, a circular opening is formed at the approximate center of the bottom of the lower case 3, and the trackball 10 is disposed so as to be able to roll slightly exposed from the circular opening. In the vicinity of the trackball 10, an X-axis movement detector 11 and a Y-axis movement detector 12 are disposed. The X-axis movement detector 11 includes a rotating disk 11a having a rotating shaft that contacts the trackball 10 and a photocoupler 11b, and slits arranged at predetermined angular intervals on the circumference of the rotating disk 11a. Then, the light projection of the photocoupler 11b is allowed to pass, and a detection signal indicating the amount of movement in the X-axis direction is generated. The Y-axis movement detector 12 includes a rotating disk 12a having a rotating shaft that contacts the trackball 10 and a photocoupler 12b. The Y-axis movement detector 12 projects the photocoupler 12b into a slit provided on the circumference of the rotating disk 12a. A detection signal indicating the amount of movement in the Y-axis direction is generated by passing light.

  As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, the output sides of the X-axis movement detector 11 and the Y-axis movement detector 12 are connected to an arithmetic circuit 13. The arithmetic circuit 13 calculates the amount and direction of movement of the mouse based on the signals sent from the photocoupler 11b of the X-axis movement detector 11 and the photocoupler 12b of the Y-axis movement detector 12, and uses the data as the USB controller. 14 for output. The USB controller 14 is configured to generate a USB serial signal indicating the amount and direction of movement of the mouse in accordance with a predetermined serial bus interface protocol and output the USB serial signal through the USB cable 15. A USB connector 16 is connected to the tip of the USB cable 15 and can be connected to a USB port of a personal computer.

  Furthermore, a circular opening is formed in the bottom of the lower case 3 at a position substantially in front of the center, and the lens 21 of the imaging camera 20 is attached to the circular opening. The imaging camera 20 includes an imaging element 22 such as a CCD or a CMOS, and the imaging element 22 is mounted in the lower case 3 so as to receive an image formed through the lens 21. The image sensor 22 is mounted on a small printed circuit board together with the amplifier circuit 24 and the image sensor controller 23. The lens 21 is preferably mounted movably so that focus adjustment is possible.

  As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, an image pickup device controller 23 for driving the image pickup device is connected to the image pickup device 22, and an amplifier circuit 24 is connected to the output side of the image pickup device 22. The captured image signal is amplified. An A / D conversion circuit 25 is connected to the output side of the amplifier circuit 24, converts the analog signal sent from the amplifier circuit 24 into a digital signal, and outputs it to the USB controller 14. The USB controller 14 generates a serial image signal for USB according to a predetermined serial bus interface protocol, and outputs it through the USB cable 15.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a camera switch 6 and a plurality of function switches 7 are disposed on the upper case 2 of the mouse. The imaging camera 20 normally outputs the image data constituting the through image every predetermined time and displays the through image (moving image) on the display of the personal computer, but the image display software installed on the personal computer displays the still image. In the case where the camera switch 6 has a function to do this, the camera switch 6 is used as a still shutter switch for outputting a still still image. When the camera switch 6 is turned on, still image data of an image frame at that time is output from the USB controller 14. The plurality of function switches 7 function as function switches for performing switching necessary for various functions of the personal computer, for example, switches for changing the brightness of the screen or switches for changing the volume.

  Next, the operation of the camera mouse with the above configuration will be described. The USB connector 16 of the USB cable 15 drawn out from the mouse body case 1 is connected to the USB port 32 of the personal computer 30 as shown in FIG. Is done.

  When the mouse is moved on a mouse pad or the like, the trackball 10 rotates in accordance with the movement, and a signal corresponding to the amount of movement in the X-axis direction is output from the X-axis movement detector 11, and the Y-axis movement detector 12 outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of movement in the Y-axis direction. The signals indicating the X-axis movement amount and the Y-axis movement amount are sent to the arithmetic circuit 13, and the movement direction and movement amount of the mouse are calculated from these signals. The mouse movement direction and movement amount signals are sent to the USB controller 14, a USB serial signal is generated according to a predetermined serial bus interface protocol, and is output to the USB cable 15. The movement direction and movement amount signals of the mouse are taken into the personal computer 30 through the USB port 32 of the personal computer, and are used for pointer movement control and click operation on the screen of the display 31.

  On the other hand, when a user wants to take a picture (eg, his / her profile) using a camera-equipped mouse and view the photographed image through the display 31, image display software installed in the personal computer is activated. Then, for example, an icon such as “start imaging” displayed on the screen of the image display software is clicked, and the mouse is lifted as shown in FIG. 5 so that the lens 21 of the imaging camera 20 on the bottom surface is directed to the desired portion. .

  For example, when the user wants to see his / her profile, the lens 21 on the bottom of the mouse is directed to his / her profile. At this time, an imaging signal indicating an image formed through the lens 21 is output from the imaging device 22 from the imaging camera 20 of the mouse. This imaging signal is amplified through the amplifier circuit 24, converted from an analog signal to a digital signal through the A / D conversion circuit 25, and sent to the USB controller 14.

  In the USB controller 14, an imaging signal is generated as a USB serial image signal according to a predetermined serial bus interface protocol, and is output through the USB cable 15 and the USB connector 16. Then, the image signal is taken into the personal computer 30 from the USB port 32, and the photographed image is displayed on the display 31.

  As a result, the user can easily see his / her photographed profile on the display 31 of the personal computer 30 as if he / she looked at the three-sided mirror. Further, even in a portion that cannot be normally seen such as the back of the user's head, neck, or back, the image can be easily displayed on the display 31 simply by pointing the imaging camera 20 at the bottom of the mouse. Furthermore, by using a lens that can be used for macro photography, the imaging camera can take close-up shots, magnify fine mechanical parts, natural objects, etc., and display the image on the display for convenient use. can do.

  In this way, the user can use a very simple operation to lift the mouse that is being held in his or her hand and point it at the subject in a normal computer state. For example, you can take a picture of your profile or back. In addition, the image pickup signal picked up by the image pickup camera 20 is transmitted to the personal computer 30 through the USB controller 14 and the USB cable 15, and the USB controller 14 usually has a built-in USB hub for setting a plurality of USB ports. The pointing signal and the imaging signal can be transmitted to the personal computer 30 through the common USB cable 15.

  In the above embodiment, a trackball mouse has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to an optical mouse. In the above description, the mouse is connected to the personal computer via the USB cable. However, instead of the USB cable, a wireless communication device that wirelessly transmits and receives USB signals can be attached and configured as a wireless mouse.

  Furthermore, the mouse with this camera can also be used as a room surveillance camera. For example, in the case of a wireless mouse with a camera, place it on a charger, start the computer in that state, capture the image signal from the imaging camera, and place it in another room or place The image signal can be input to a portable terminal or the like via a network and used to monitor an image taken from a camera-equipped mouse.

  Further, a scroll wheel may be provided on the upper surface of the upper case 2 of the mouse so as to have a scroll function. The function switch provided on the upper surface of the upper case 2 of the mouse can also be used as a switch for operating a surveillance camera installed at another location.

It is a top view of a mouse with a camera showing one embodiment of the present invention. It is a bottom view of the mouse with the camera. It is sectional drawing of the mouse | mouth with the camera. It is a block diagram of the electric circuit of the mouse. It is a perspective view which shows the use condition of a mouse | mouth. It is a perspective view which shows the use condition of a mouse | mouth.

Explanation of symbols

1-Body case 4, 5-click switch 10-Track ball 11-X axis movement detector 12-Y axis movement detector 14-USB controller 15-USB cable 16-USB connector 20-Image camera 21-Lens 22-Image element

Claims (2)

In the mouse which arranges the movement amount / movement direction detection means and the click signal generation means in the main body case, and arranges the USB controller, and outputs the signal indicating the movement amount and the movement direction and the click signal as a USB signal. ,
An imaging camera lens is disposed in an opening provided in a part of the main body case, and an image sensor that receives an image formed through the lens and converts it into an electric signal is disposed inside the main body case. A mouse with a camera configured to output an image signal captured by the image sensor through the USB controller.   The camera mouse according to claim 1, wherein the lens of the imaging camera is provided on a bottom surface of the main body case, and a function switch is disposed on the upper surface of the main body case.

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