JP2006350540A - Pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointing device which is easy to specify a position of a pointer even for a physically impaired person. <P>SOLUTION: In a pointing device 1 which is equipped with a main part 2 and a ball 3 held rotatably by the main part 2, the above ball 3 is characterized by consisting of a mass comprising low specific gravity material having a spherical contour, and a weight comprising high specific gravity material and buried in differential position from a geometric center of the mass. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pointing device that designates the position of a pointer on an information processing apparatus such as a computer. This pointing device is suitably used when the operator is a non-healthy person such as a disabled person, a sick person, or an elderly person.

In an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a pointing device called “mouse” is widely used as an input device for designating the position of a pointer on a screen. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a mouse includes a sphere that is rotatably held inside and a part of which is exposed from the bottom surface by the action of gravity, and a sensor that detects the rotation direction and amount of rotation of the sphere. Then, on a plane such as a mouse pad, the sphere is moved while being in contact with the pad to rotate the sphere, and the pointer on the screen is moved based on the rotation direction and amount.
Therefore, when the pointer is moved, it is necessary to expose the sphere from the bottom surface by the action of gravity, and it is necessary to slide the mouse horizontally on the desk while holding the mouse so that the bottom surface faces downward.

However, it is difficult for a non-healthy person who cannot maintain a fixed posture for a long time or is bedridden to always move the mouse horizontally, and the designation with the conventional mouse is a laborious task. .
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pointing device that allows a non-healthy person to easily specify the position of a pointer.

In order to solve the problem, the pointing device of the present invention is
In a pointing device comprising a main body and a sphere rotatably held by the main body,
The sphere has a center of gravity at a position different from the geometric center thereof.
According to this pointing device, the sphere maintains a constant posture such that the center of gravity is always lower than the geometric center in the gravity direction regardless of the posture of the main body. Therefore, if a detection device such as a known sensor for detecting the relative relationship between the main body and the sphere is attached, the same signal as the sphere rotates with respect to the main body can be obtained by tilting the main body in an arbitrary direction and angle. Can be detected.

So, if you look at the pointing device of this invention from another aspect,
In a pointing device comprising a main body and a sphere rotatably held by the main body,
The sphere is composed of a lump made of a low specific gravity material such as rubber or plastic and having a spherical outline, and a weight made of a high specific gravity material such as metal and buried in a position different from the geometric center of the lump. And
This is because the specific gravity of the weight is larger than that of the lump, so that the sphere keeps a fixed posture so that the weight is always lower than the geometric center in the direction of gravity.

  According to the present invention, it is not necessary to move the pointing device horizontally, and the position of the pointer can be specified only by changing the angle. Therefore, the operator can operate with an easy posture such as standing, leaning, and lying on the back. Moreover, since it is not necessary to expose the sphere to the bottom surface, dust hardly enters the device.

  The apparatus for detecting the relative relationship between the main body and the sphere is not particularly limited, and two orthogonal rotation axes may be brought into contact with the surface of the sphere, and the respective rotation amounts may be output by an encoder. In addition, the light-emitting unit that emits light to the surface of the sphere and the light-receiving unit that detects the light emitted from the light-emitting unit and reflected by the surface of the sphere or the light that has passed through the sphere are attached to the main body. May be detected optically. For example, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-105415, if a pattern having different reflectivity is formed in a checkered pattern on the surface of a sphere, the amount of rotation and direction can be detected by receiving the reflected light at the light receiving unit. Can do. Further, as described in JP-A-11-102257, if a sphere is provided with a large number of holes or transparent columns that penetrate in the radial direction, the amount of rotation and direction can be detected by receiving incident light at the light receiving portion. Can do.

  Examples of means for rotatably holding the sphere on the main body include a ball bearing arranged three-dimensionally around the sphere. Further, a transparent hollow body facing the sphere through a minute gap may be fixed to the main body, and the sphere may be held in the main body by filling the minute gap with a liquid such as silicon oil.

Example 1
A pointing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a front view showing a pointing device, FIG. 2 is a plan view, and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an internal structure of the device.
The pointing device 1 includes a main body 2 including a base 2a and a cover 2b, and a sphere 3 rotatably held by the main body 2. The sphere 3 is composed of a rubber lump 3a having a spherical outline and one lead weight 3b embedded therein. The weight 3b is embedded at a position deviated from the geometric center of the lump 3a.

The base 2a is formed with a hemispherical recess 2c that surrounds substantially the lower half of the sphere 3, and one ball bearing 2d is disposed at four locations on the periphery thereof. Similarly, a hemispherical recess (not shown) surrounding the substantially upper half of the sphere 3 is formed in the cover 2b, and a ball bearing is disposed.
Further, the main body 2 is in contact with the sphere 3 and is arranged on the base 2a so as to be orthogonal to each other, and two rotary shafts 5 and 6, and optical rotary encoders 7 for detecting the rotation amounts of the rotary shafts 5 and 6, respectively. 8 and a circuit 4 for outputting a detection signal to the information processing apparatus.

  In this device 1, the weight 3 b having a large specific gravity is embedded at a position deviated from the geometric center of the mass 3 a having a small specific gravity, and the sphere 3 can be rotated on the main body 2. As a result, regardless of the posture of the main body 2, the sphere 3 maintains a posture in which the weight 3 is lower than the geometric center of the lump 3a in the gravity direction. Therefore, only by grasping and tilting the main body 2, the rotation amount and direction of the main body 2 can be transmitted to the rotating shaft, detected by the encoder, and the position of the pointer can be designated.

-Example 2-
A pointing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown as a front view in FIG. 4 and as a plan view in FIG. The internal structure is shown as a plan view in FIG. In this example, an optical sensor 16 composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element is arranged in the vicinity of the sphere 13 instead of the encoder in the first embodiment. A checkered pattern is formed on the surface of the sphere 13 with materials having different reflectivities. Further, instead of a connection cord with the information processing device, a transmission unit 19 that emits a signal by infrared rays toward a reception unit of the information processing device and a power source 15 such as a battery that supplies power to each unit are provided.
Also in this device 11, the weight 13b is embedded in the eccentric position of the lump 13a. As a result, by simply grasping and tilting the main body 12, the rotation amount and direction of the main body 12 can be detected by the optical sensor 16 based on the change in the reflected light, and the position of the pointer can be designated. Since it is cordless, the main body 12 can be easily tilted and rotated.

Example 3
A pointing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown as a partially broken front view in FIG. Also in this example, an optical sensor 26 including a light emitting element and a light receiving element is arranged in the vicinity of the sphere 23 instead of the encoder in the first embodiment. A checkered pattern is formed on the surface of the sphere 23 using a material having a different reflectance. Further, a transmission unit 29 and a power source 25 are provided in the same manner as in the second embodiment instead of the connection cord with the information processing apparatus. Further, instead of the ball bearing in the first embodiment, a hollow sphere 22d made of a transparent acrylic resin is fixed to a bracket portion 22e integrated with the base 22a, and is in pressure contact with the cover 22b through urethane rubber 22f. The inner surface of the hollow sphere faces the outer surface of the sphere through a minute gap, and silicon oil 27 is liquid-tightly filled in the minute gap. The optical sensor 26 is disposed outside the hollow sphere 23.

  Also in this device 21, the weight 23b is embedded in the eccentric position of the lump 23a. Moreover, since the ball 23 is held by the main body 22 in a state of floating in the silicon oil 27, the frictional resistance is extremely small. Therefore, even if the main body 22 changes the angle, the sphere 23 does not follow at all and maintains the same posture. As a result, the rotation amount and direction of the main body 22 are detected by the optical sensor 26 based on the change in the reflected light, and the position of the pointer is quickly designated by simply changing the angle by grabbing the main body 22 and tilting or turning it. can do. Since it is cordless, the main body 22 can be easily tilted and rotated.

1 is a front view showing a pointing device of Example 1. FIG. It is also a plan view. It is a top view which similarly shows an internal structure. FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a pointing device according to a second embodiment. It is also a plan view. It is a top view which similarly shows an internal structure. 6 is a partially cutaway front view showing a pointing device of Example 3. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 11, 21 Pointing device 2, 12, 22 Main body 2d, 12d Ball bearing 3, 13, 23 Ball 3a, 13a, 23a Lump 3b, 13b, 23b Weight 16, 26 Light sensor 23 Hollow ball 27 Silicon oil

Claims (5)

In a pointing device comprising a main body and a sphere rotatably held by the main body,
A pointing device, wherein the sphere has a center of gravity at a position different from a geometric center thereof. In a pointing device comprising a main body and a sphere rotatably held by the main body,
The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the sphere includes a lump made of a low specific gravity material and having a spherical outline, and a weight made of a high specific gravity material and buried in a position different from the geometric center of the lump.   The said main body is equipped with the light emission part which light-emits with respect to the surface of a sphere, and the light-receiving part which detects the light which was emitted from the light emission part and reflected on the surface of the sphere, or the light which passed the sphere. The pointing device described.   The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the ball is held by the main body via a ball bearing. A transparent hollow body that is opposed to the sphere through a minute gap is fixed to the main body,
The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the sphere is held on the main body via a liquid such as silicon oil that is liquid-tightly filled in the minute gap.

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