JP2007200188A - Position input device, remote controller, computer system, and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily operate equipment having a plurality of functions. <P>SOLUTION: A remote controller main body 21 of a remote controller 2 is provided with a position input operation section 22 having a sensor substrate 213, a flat pedestal 231 supported slidably along a surface of the sensor substrate 213, and an operation projection 23 stood on the flat pedestal 231, and also provided with a position detecting circuit which detects the position of the operation projection 23 relative to the sensor substrate 213. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a position input device for performing a position input operation, a remote control device including the position input device, a computer system, and an electronic apparatus.

Conventionally, remote control devices (so-called remote control devices) have been used in many home appliances (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Many of the conventional remote control devices have a large number of keys corresponding to the functions of the device to be operated.
JP 05-056484 A (FIG. 2)

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, home appliances such as DVD recorders have become increasingly multifunctional, and the number of keys mounted on a remote control device has increased significantly, making operation extremely complicated. In order to solve this problem, some household electric appliances can be easily operated using a hierarchical menu. However, menu selection operations must be performed using keys mounted on the remote control device, and further improvement in operability has been demanded.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable easy operation of a device having a plurality of functions.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention detects a sensing unit having a detection surface, an operation element supported so as to be movable along the detection surface of the sense unit, and a position of the operation element with respect to the detection surface. And a position detecting means.
According to this configuration, when an operation for moving the operation element is performed, the position of the operation element with respect to the detection surface of the sense unit is detected in response to the operation, so that the user can operate the operation element along the detection surface. The position can be input simply by moving the to any position. Further, since the operation element is supported so as to be movable along the detection surface, the user only needs to move the operation element along the detection surface, and it is necessary to appropriately maintain the distance between the operation element and the detection surface. There is no. For this reason, position input can be performed very easily. Therefore, when this position input device is used as an operation device for an electronic device or a computer, the position input operation for the electronic device or the computer can be easily performed, and the operability can be greatly improved. Further, since the position detecting unit detects the position of the operation element with respect to the detection surface, the operation can be sufficiently performed even if the movement amount of the operation element is small. For this reason, there exists an advantage that size reduction is easy combined with a simple structure.

In the present invention, the operation element may be configured by a flat plate portion disposed so as to overlap the detection surface and an operation projection portion erected on the flat plate portion. In this case, the user only needs to perform an operation of moving the operation protrusion, and the position input operation can be performed more easily.
In the present invention, the upper surface of the operation projection may be a curved surface. In this case, for example, when the user moves the operation protrusion with a finger, the operational feeling can be improved.

Furthermore, in this invention, it is good also as a structure which interposed the friction layer which produces a predetermined friction when moving the said flat plate part with respect to the said detection surface between the said flat plate part and the said detection surface. According to this configuration, since an appropriate resistance is generated when an operation of moving the flat plate portion is performed, an effect that the sense of stability of the operation is increased can be obtained.
Moreover, in this invention, it is good also as a structure which provided the rolling support part which rolls at the time of the movement of the said flat plate part, supporting the said flat plate part between the said flat plate part and the said detection surface. In this case, since the resistance at the time of moving the flat plate portion is remarkably reduced, an effect that the load on the user at the time of operation is greatly reduced can be obtained.

  In the present invention, a support mechanism may be provided that supports the operating element so as to be slidable in a predetermined direction and a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction along the detection surface. In this case, the position input operation can be performed very easily only by performing an operation of moving the operation element supported by the support mechanism to an arbitrary position.

In the present invention, a coil is incorporated in each of the sense unit and the operation element, and the position detecting means is based on electromagnetic coupling generated between the coils contained in the sense unit and the operation element. The position of the operation element may be detected. According to this configuration, the position of the operation element with respect to the detection surface of the sense unit can be reliably and promptly detected.
Here, the coil of the sense unit may be a plurality of loop coils forming a ring along the detection surface of the sense unit. In this case, it is easy to reduce the configuration of the detection surface of the sense unit, and the position of the operation element can be detected reliably and accurately.

  In the present invention, the position detection unit may detect the position of the operation element with respect to the operation surface based on an electrostatic coupling state between the sense unit and the operation element. Alternatively, the position detection unit may detect the position of the operation element with respect to the operation surface by detecting a pressing force applied to the operation surface from the operation element.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises the above position input device, and a wireless transmission means for wirelessly transmitting a signal indicating the position of the operation element detected by the position input device. A remote control device is provided.
According to this configuration, since the signal indicating the position detected by the position input device is transmitted wirelessly, there is an advantage that the position input operation can be easily performed on the target device operated by the remote control device. is there.
Here, the remote control device of the present invention has a main body having a hollow portion, a hole communicating with the hollow portion is provided on one surface of the main body, and the sense portion of the position input device is accommodated in the hollow portion. And at least one part of the operation element of the said position input device is good also as a structure exposed from the hole connected to the said hollow part.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the above-described remote control device, display means for displaying an image on a display screen, and reception means for receiving a signal transmitted by a wireless transmission means included in the remote control device; There is provided a computer system comprising: a computer including a control unit that changes display on the display screen based on a signal received by the receiving unit.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises the above position input device and a display screen, and changes the display on the display screen based on the position detected by the position input device. Provide electronic equipment.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform position input simply by sliding the operation element to an arbitrary position, and position input operation can be easily performed. Thus, for example, an operation using a menu screen or a GUI (Graphical User Interface) can be easily and quickly performed, so that a device having a complicated function can be easily operated.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a computer system 1 according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
The computer system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a remote control device 2, a television receiver 3, and a computer main body 4. The remote control device 2 is a remote control device for performing an instruction input operation to the computer main body 4 and is operated by being held in the user's hand as indicated by a symbol A in the figure, and a signal indicating the operation content is wirelessly transmitted to the computer main body 4. Send.

As will be described later, the computer main body 4 is a computer that receives signals wirelessly transmitted from the remote control device 2 and executes various programs. The computer main body 4 generates a display signal for displaying various screens related to the executed program and instructions received from the remote control device 2, and outputs the display signal to the television receiver 3.
The television receiver 3 displays various screens on the display screen 35 based on the display signal input from the computer main body 4. For example, on the display screen 35 of the television receiver 3, a pointer 30 </ b> A that moves on the screen of the display screen 35 in response to a position input operation in the remote control device 2 is displayed. In addition, the television receiver 3 includes a tuner unit 36 (FIG. 5) connected to an antenna, and receives various broadcast waves such as a terrestrial analog method, terrestrial digital broadcast, satellite digital broadcast, and the like, and selects them. It has the function of outputting the image and sound of the channel that has been stationed.
Although the television receiver 3 can be directly operated by operating the remote control device 2, in the first embodiment, the case where the computer main body 4 is operated by the remote control device 2 will be described as an example. To do.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of the remote control device 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, the remote control device 2 includes a position input operation unit 22 (position input device), a key switch unit 24, a power switch 25, and an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 26 on the upper surface of the remote control device main body 21. Each part is arranged.
The position input operation unit 22 is located substantially at the center of the upper surface of the remote control device main body 21 and has an operation protrusion 23. For example, when the operation protrusion 23 is held by the user's hand as indicated by a symbol A in FIG. 1, the operation protrusion 23 is operated by the user's thumb.
In the position input operation unit 22, a substantially rectangular hole is provided on the upper surface of the remote control device main body 21, and the operation protrusion 23 projects from the hole. The operation protrusion 23 can be moved in a planar manner inside the substantially rectangular hole.
The key switch unit 24 includes one or more switches. The power switch 25 is a switch for instructing the target device operated by the remote control device 2 to turn on / off the power. The LED 26 functions as an indicator that indicates the operating state of the remote control device 2, and is turned on, for example, during the operation of the remote control device 2, and is turned off when the remote control device 2 is not operated for a certain period of time.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the configuration of the position input operation unit 22 in detail. The cross section of the operation projection 23 is shown in detail in FIG. 4, and the illustration in FIG. 3 is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 3, the position input operation unit 22 includes a sensor substrate 213 (sense unit) embedded between a front plate 211 and a back plate 212 constituting the exterior of the remote control device main body 21, and the sensor substrate 213. The flat pedestal 231 (flat plate part) disposed above the flat pedestal 231 and the operation protrusion 23 (operation protrusion part) standing on the flat pedestal 231.

The sensor substrate 213 is a substrate provided with loop coil groups 241 and 242 (FIG. 6) described later, and is fixed to the back plate 212.
The flat base 231 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the sensor substrate 213 and the back surface of the front plate 211. The size of the flat base 231 is larger than the substantially rectangular hole provided on the upper surface of the remote control device main body 21 and smaller than the sensor substrate 213. For this reason, the flat pedestal 231 can be moved in any direction along the surface of the sensor substrate 213 and does not fall out of a substantially rectangular hole provided on the upper surface of the remote control device main body 21.
The flat base 231 is configured to be arbitrarily movable in the horizontal direction on a plane parallel to the sensor substrate 213 in a space formed between the surface plate 211 and the sensor substrate 213. Here, the friction material 214 (friction layer) is affixed on the surface where the flat pedestal 231 and the sensor substrate 213 are in contact and the surface where the flat pedestal 231 and the back surface of the front plate 211 are in contact. The friction material 214 is a sheet or a plate-like member made of a material having a predetermined friction coefficient. When the flat pedestal 231 moves in the horizontal direction, moderate friction is generated by the friction material 214, so that the sense of stability during the operation of moving the operation projection 23 is increased.
Here, the planar shape of the sensor substrate 213 and the flat base 231 is arbitrary, and may be any shape such as a circle, an ellipse, and a rectangle.

  The operation protrusion 23 includes a substantially cylindrical shaft portion 232 erected on the flat base 231 and a contact surface 233 disposed so as to cover the upper surface of the shaft portion 232. The contact surface 233 is formed as a curved surface that protrudes upward, and the user's thumb is in contact with the contact surface 233, for example, as indicated by reference numeral A in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a main part sectional view showing a more detailed configuration of the operation protrusion 23, and particularly shows a section of the shaft part 232 and the contact surface 233.
As shown in FIG. 4, a space is provided in the shaft portion 232 of the operation projection 23, and the tact switch 240 and the ferrite core 236 are stacked and accommodated in this space in order from the bottom. Further, the upper end of the ferrite core 236 is in contact with the upper end of the space via the spacer 239.

The tact switch 240 is a switch that is bent and deformed to a predetermined pressing force, is turned on, and returns when the pressing force is removed. The tact switch 240 is sandwiched between the upper surface and the bottom surface of the space in the shaft portion 232 via the spacer 239 and the ferrite core 236. For this reason, when the contact surface 233 is pressed, a pressing force is applied to the tact switch 240 to turn it ON. At this time, the tact switch 240 bends while performing a click operation, so that the user's hand operating the contact surface 233 feels a click feeling.
Here, it is preferable that the material constituting the shaft portion 232 is elastic enough to be bent by a predetermined pressing force, because the tact switch 240 is reliably turned on by pressing the operation projection 23.

  A coil 235 is wound around a substantially cylindrical ferrite core 236, and a capacitor 237 (FIG. 6) is connected in parallel to the coil 235 and further connected to an IC 238 (FIG. 6). For example, the capacitor 237 and the IC 238 are mounted on a substrate (not shown) disposed in a space in the shaft portion 232. The coil 235, the capacitor 237, and the IC 238 constitute an operation side circuit 234.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an operation side circuit 234 is built in the operation protrusion 23. The operation side circuit 234 generates an electromagnetic induction action between the loop coil groups 241 and 242 provided on the sensor substrate 213 (FIG. 3) as described later. Based on this electromagnetic induction action, the position of the operation side circuit 234 on the sensor substrate 213 is detected. That is, the position input operation unit 22 can detect the position of the operation protrusion 23 with respect to the sensor substrate 213.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation protrusion 23 is erected inside a substantially rectangular hole provided in the surface plate 211, and the operation protrusion 23 can slide together with the flat base 231 inside the hole. It is. Therefore, the user who operates the remote control device 2 can perform a position input operation by sliding the operation protrusion 23 to an arbitrary position.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of the remote control device 2, the television receiver 3, and the computer main body 4 constituting the computer system 1.
As shown in FIG. 5, the remote control device 2 includes a key operation detection unit 202 that detects an operation of a switch of the key switch unit 24, and a position detection circuit 20 that detects a position input operation in the position input operation unit 22 (position Detection means), an operation signal corresponding to the operation detected by the key operation detection unit 202 and the position detection circuit 20 is generated and encoded, and the encoded signal is output to the light emitting unit 203 (wireless transmission means) to emit light. And a light emitting unit 203 including an infrared LED that emits light according to a signal input from the control unit 201.

Here, the circuit configuration of the position detection circuit 20 included in the remote control device 2 will be described in detail.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the position detection circuit 20 in detail. FIG. 6 shows loop coil groups 241 and 242 disposed on the sensor substrate 213 (FIG. 3) and an operation side circuit 234 built in the operation protrusion 23 (FIG. 4).

The position detection circuit 20 is connected to loop coil groups 241 and 242 disposed on the sensor substrate 213.
In the sensor substrate 213, an XY orthogonal coordinate system composed of an X axis and a Y axis is virtually set corresponding to the horizontal and vertical directions of a substantially rectangular hole provided on the upper surface of the remote control device main body 21. The loop coil groups 241 and 242 are arranged corresponding to this XY orthogonal coordinate system.
The loop coil group 241 includes a plurality of loop coils extending in the Y direction along the X direction. The loop coil group 242 includes a plurality of loop coils extending in the X direction along the Y direction. They are arranged. Each loop coil of the loop coil groups 241 and 242 is a coil of one or a plurality of turns made of a conductor, and is arranged on the sensor substrate 213 (FIG. 3) by a technique such as etching.

The position detection circuit 20 includes a selection circuit 252 that selects one loop coil from the loop coil groups 241 and 242, a transmission mode that transmits an oscillation signal to the loop coil selected by the selection circuit 252, and selection A transmission / reception switching circuit 253 that switches a reception mode in which a signal is received by the loop coil selected by the circuit 252 is provided.
In addition, the position detection circuit 20 has a control circuit 251 that controls each part of the position detection circuit 20, an amplification circuit 254 that amplifies the signal output from the transmission / reception switching circuit 253, and a signal amplified by the amplification circuit 254 with respect to a predetermined value. A BPF (band-pass filter) 255 that passes only the signal component of the frequency band, a detection circuit 256 that converts the signal component that has passed through the BPF 255 into a voltage value, a sample-and-hold circuit 257 that holds this voltage value for a predetermined time, and a sample An A / D conversion circuit 258 that converts the voltage value held in the hold circuit 257 into digital data and outputs the digital data to the control circuit 251; a signal generation circuit 259 that generates an oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency in accordance with the control of the control circuit 251; Amplification for amplifying the oscillation signal generated by the signal generation circuit 259 and outputting it to the transmission / reception switching circuit 253 It includes a road 260.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the operation side circuit 234 built in the operation protrusion 23 of the remote control device 2 includes a coil 235, a capacitor 237 connected in parallel to the coil 235, and the coil 235 and the capacitor 237. And an IC 238 connected thereto.

The position detection circuit 20 detects a position input operation in the position input operation unit 22 as follows.
First, the control circuit 251 controls the selection circuit 252 to select one loop coil from the loop coil groups 241 and 242 and controls the transmission / reception switching circuit 253 to switch the operation mode to the transmission mode.
Subsequently, the control circuit 251 controls the signal generation circuit 259 to generate an oscillation signal having a predetermined frequency. This oscillation signal is amplified by the amplifier circuit 260 and input to the selection circuit 252 via the transmission / reception switching circuit 253, and transmitted from the loop coil selected by the selection circuit 252 to the operation side circuit 234 of the operation protrusion 23. .

  Here, in the operation side circuit 234, an induced current flows through the coil 235 by the oscillation signal transmitted from the loop coil of the sensor substrate 213, and the IC 238 starts to operate. The IC 238 generates an oscillation signal having a predetermined frequency for the coil 235 and the capacitor 237, and transmits the oscillation signal from the coil 235 to the sensor substrate 213.

On the other hand, the control circuit 251 of the position detection circuit 20 switches the operation mode to the reception mode by controlling the transmission / reception switching circuit 253 after continuing the operation in the transmission mode for a predetermined time. By this switching, the oscillation signal from the signal generation circuit 259 is not output to the selection circuit 252.
In the reception mode, the oscillation signal transmitted from the coil 235 by the operation of the IC 238 is received by the loop coil selected by the selection circuit 252, amplified by the amplification circuit 254, and then component of a predetermined frequency band by the BPF 255. Only is output to the detection circuit 256. This signal component is converted into a voltage value by the detection circuit 256 and held in the sample hold circuit 257. The voltage value held in the sample hold circuit 257 is converted into digital data by the A / D conversion circuit 258 every predetermined time and is output to the control circuit 251.

  Then, the control circuit 251 operates the digital data input from the A / D conversion circuit 258 while sequentially selecting the loop coils of the loop coil groups 241 and 242 by the selection circuit 252, thereby being close to the operation protrusion 23. The loop coil is specified, and the coordinates of the designated position are obtained.

Further, the IC 238 detects the operation state (ON / OFF) of the tact switch 240 (FIG. 4) while an induced current flows through the coil 235, and sends an oscillation signal to the coil 235 and the capacitor 237 according to this operation state. Change the timing and delivery time. This change in the sending timing and sending time is reflected when the voltage value held in the sample hold circuit 257 is converted into digital data by the A / D conversion circuit 258. Then, the control circuit 251 acquires the operation state of the tact switch 240 by performing arithmetic processing on the digital data input from the A / D conversion circuit 258.
Thereafter, the control circuit 251 generates an operation signal indicating the position of the operation protrusion 23 relative to the sensor substrate 213 and the operation state of the tact switch 240 and outputs the operation signal to the control unit 201 (FIG. 5).
Thus, the position detection circuit 20 of the remote control device 2 detects the position of the operation projection 23 in the position input operation unit 22, and a signal corresponding to this position is input to the light emitting unit 203.
Here, the position detection circuit 20 detects the position of the operation protrusion 23 by specifying a loop coil close to the operation protrusion 23 among the loop coil groups 241 and 242 disposed on the sensor substrate 213. Therefore, the position detection circuit 20 can output the position of the operation protrusion 23 to the control unit 201 as an absolute position in the area where the loop coil groups 241 and 242 are disposed.

  In addition to the display screen 35 described above, the television receiver 3 shown in FIG. 5 stores a control unit 31 that executes control of images displayed on the display screen 35, and various programs and data executed by the control unit 31. Infrared signals transmitted from the ROM 32, the remote control device 2, or other infrared remote control device (not shown) are received and decoded, and output to the control unit 31. The display unit 35 is controlled according to the control of the control unit 31. A video signal generator 34 for outputting a video signal, and a tuner 36 for generating a video signal based on a broadcast signal input from an externally connected antenna.

The control unit 31 reads and executes the program and data stored in the ROM 32, controls the video signal generation unit 34 based on the signal input from the light receiving unit 33, and displays a predetermined video on the display screen 35. . For example, when the signal input from the light receiving unit 33 is a signal for instructing channel switching, the control unit 31 controls the video signal generation unit 34 to generate a video signal from the broadcast signal of the designated channel. And output to the display screen 35. The control unit 31 outputs display information for displaying the menu screen to the video signal generation unit 34 when the signal input from the light receiving unit 33 is a signal instructing display of the menu screen. A menu screen including menu items (not shown) or icons (not shown) is displayed on the display screen 35. When a signal corresponding to an operation on the menu screen (selection of an item on the menu screen, etc.) is input from the light receiving unit 33 in a state where the menu screen is displayed on the display screen 35, the control unit 31 In response to the operation, an operation such as displaying a new menu screen or displaying an image of a specific channel is executed.
In addition, when a signal for displaying a screen is input from the computer main body 4, the video signal generation unit 34 included in the television receiver 3 generates display information based on this signal and outputs it to the display screen 35. The screen of the computer main body 4 is displayed on the display screen 35.

The computer main body 4 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41 (control means) that controls each part of the computer main body 4 by executing various control programs, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a control program executed by the CPU 41 and the like. ) 42, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43 that forms a work area for temporarily storing programs and data executed by the CPU 41, a control program executed by the CPU 41, an application program, and these programs And a storage unit 44 for storing data.
In addition, the computer main body 4 receives and decodes infrared light emitted from the light emitting unit 203 included in the remote control device 2 and generates an operation signal indicating the operation content in the remote control device 2; An input unit 45 that acquires an operation signal generated by the light receiving unit 46 and outputs the operation signal to the CPU 41; an I / F unit 47 that can be connected to various devices (not shown) outside the computer main body 4; a communication line; The display unit 48 (display means) that analyzes the screen display data generated by the CPU 41, generates a signal for displaying the screen, and outputs the signal to the television receiver 3 is provided. The above units are connected to each other by a bus 49.

The CPU 41 reads out and executes the basic control program stored in the ROM 42, thereby controlling each part of the computer main body 4, and reads out the application program stored in the storage unit 44, expands it in the work area of the RAM 43, and executes it. And processing various data. Further, during execution of the basic control program and the application program, the CPU 41 generates screen display data for displaying a screen related to the program and outputs it to the display unit 48, and the television receiver 3 displays the screen. Display.
Further, when an operation signal indicating the position detected by the position detection circuit 20 of the remote control device 2 is input from the input unit 45, the CPU 41 is based on the operation information and the screen display data output to the display unit 48. Then, the instruction content by the position input operation is determined, and an operation corresponding to the determined instruction content is performed.
Further, when an operation signal indicating the operation state of the switch of the key switch unit 24 included in the remote control device 2 is input from the input unit 45, the CPU 41 determines the instruction content by the operation of the key switch unit 24, and the determined instruction Perform the action corresponding to the content.
As a result, the remote controller 2 can perform a position input operation on the computer main body 4.

That is, during the operation of the computer main body 4, a screen related to the application program being executed by the computer main body 4 is displayed on the display screen 35 of the television receiver 3. Here, various menu screens and GUI screens are displayed on the display screen 35, and a pointer 30A is further displayed as illustrated in FIG. In this state, by moving the pointer 30A to an arbitrary position and further operating a switch or the like, a menu selection operation, an icon selection operation on the GUI, or the like can be performed. It is possible to perform instruction operations for most of the functions.
That is, the position input operation unit 22 provided in the remote control device 2 moves the operation protrusion 23 to an arbitrary position, so that a signal indicating the position of the operation protrusion 23 is transmitted from the remote control device 2 to the computer main body 4. Further, when the switch of the key switch unit 24 is operated, a signal indicating the operation state is transmitted from the remote control device 2 to the computer main body 4. Thereby, in the remote controller 2, it is possible to perform operations on the menu screen and GUI displayed on the display screen 35 by the computer main body 4 by operating the position input operation unit 22 and the key switch unit 24.

  The position input operation unit 22 included in the remote control device 2 includes a sensor substrate 213 having loop coil groups 241 and 242 between the front plate 211 and the back plate 212 constituting the remote control device main body 21, a flat base 231, and the like. The flat base 231 is slidably disposed along the surface of the sensor substrate 213. An operation side circuit 234 is built in the operation protrusion 23 erected on the flat base 231, and the position of the operation protrusion 23 is detected by electromagnetic induction between the operation side circuit 234 and the loop coil groups 241 and 242. Is done. Accordingly, the user can move the pointer 30A to an arbitrary position simply by holding the remote control device 2 in his / her hand as shown in FIG. it can. Since this operation can be performed with the remote control device 2 held in one hand, for example, it can be easily performed even in a relaxed posture such as viewing a program with a general television receiver. The operability of 4 can be remarkably improved.

  Further, the position of the operation projection 23 when operating the remote control device 2 is detected as an absolute position in the area where the loop coil groups 241 and 242 are disposed. In other words, since the detected position does not depend on the movement amount of the operation protrusion 23, the pointer 30A can be moved to an arbitrary position on the display screen 35 even if the area where the operation protrusion 23 can be moved is limited. it can. Therefore, even if the movement range of the operation projection 23 is limited, it can be operated comfortably, and even if the remote control device 2 is downsized, comfortable operability can be realized without any problem. In addition, since position detection is performed regardless of the moving speed of the operation protrusion 23, the responsiveness to the operation of moving the operation protrusion 23 is very good.

In the first embodiment, the operation side circuit 234 is built in the operation protrusion 23, and the loop coil groups 241 and 242 are disposed on the sensor substrate 213 positioned below the operation side circuit 234. The present invention is not limited to this, and for example, it is possible to provide a configuration in which loop coil groups 241 and 242 are provided on the flat base 231 and each part constituting the operation side circuit 234 is provided on the sensor substrate 213. is there. In this case, the position of the coil 235 provided on the sensor substrate 213 side is detected on the flat pedestal 231 side. However, since it is easy to obtain the position of the operation protrusion 23 on the basis of the position of the coil 235, the above The same effect as the configuration described in the first embodiment can be obtained.
In the first embodiment, the remote control device for operating the computer main body connected to the television receiver has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, The present invention may be applied to a remote control device that controls a personal computer. Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to a remote control device for operating the television receiver itself.
Furthermore, although the remote control device 2 has been described as transmitting a signal to the computer main body 4 by emitting infrared light from the light emitting unit 203, the present invention is not limited to this, and the IEEE (Institute) The signal may be transmitted from the remote control device 2 by another method capable of wireless communication at a relatively short distance, such as a wireless communication method according to the 802.11 standard or the Bluetooth standard.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the configuration of the position input operation unit 27 in the remote control device 2 according to the second embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
The remote control device 2 according to the second embodiment is configured in the same manner as the remote control device 2 according to the first embodiment except for a ball support portion 216 described later. The same reference numerals are given, and illustration and description are omitted.

A position input operation unit 27 shown in FIG. 7 is a position input device used in place of the position input operation unit 22 according to the first embodiment. The position input operation unit 27 has a configuration in which a ball support unit 216 is provided between the sensor substrate 213 and the flat base 231 instead of the friction material 214 included in the position input operation unit 22.
The ball support portion 216 (rolling support portion) has a configuration in which a plurality of spheres are arranged, and the flat base 231 that contacts the sensor substrate 213 via the ball support portion 216 can be smoothly slid with a light force. it can. That is, according to this configuration, there is an advantage that the operation protrusion 23 can be smoothly moved with a light force and a light operation feeling can be realized as compared with the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, instead of the ball support portion 216, a roller portion in which a plurality of columnar members are arranged may be provided. Also in this case, the flat base 231 can be smoothly moved without causing excessive friction with the sensor substrate 213 by interposing the cylindrical member, and comfortable operability can be realized.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part particularly showing the configuration of the position input operation unit 28 in the remote control device 2 according to the second embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
The remote control device 2 according to the second embodiment is configured in the same manner as the remote control device 2 according to the first embodiment except for an operation side circuit 234 to be described later. The same reference numerals are given, and illustration and description are omitted.

A position input operation unit 28 shown in FIG. 8 is a position input device used in place of the position input operation unit 22 according to the first embodiment. The position input operation unit 28 has a configuration in which a protrusion contact surface 233A is provided instead of the contact surface 233 with which the user's finger contacts.
The contact surface 233A has a configuration in which a plurality of protrusions are provided on a bent surface that is concave upward. These protrusions are made of a flexible material so as not to give a burden to the user's finger, and the tip is curved.
According to this configuration, the user's finger in contact with the contact surface 233A is difficult to slip. For this reason, compared with the first embodiment, there is an advantage that the operation protrusion 23 can be reliably moved and the operation is felt to be stable because the finger is difficult to slip.

[Fourth Embodiment]
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a main part particularly showing the configuration of the position input operation unit 29 in the remote control device 2 according to the fourth embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 10 is a plan view of the main part.
Since the remote control device 2 according to the fourth embodiment is configured in the same manner as the remote control device 2 according to the third embodiment except for the wire 217 described later, the same reference numerals are used for common components. The illustration and description are omitted.

A position input operation unit 29 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is a position input device used in place of the position input operation unit 28 according to the third embodiment.
The position input operation unit 29 is configured not to provide the flat base 231 but to support the operation protrusion 23 by the slide support members 218 and 219 via the wire 217. Here, the wire 217 and the slide support members 218 and 219 constitute a support mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 10, the position input operation unit 29 is provided with slide support members 218 and 219 that are rod-shaped members having grooves formed along the longitudinal direction thereof.
The slide support members 219 are disposed at both end portions of the position input operation unit 29 along the longitudinal direction of the remote control device 2, and the slide support members 218 are operated to perform a position input operation in a direction orthogonal to the slide support member 219. The front end portion and the rear end portion of the portion 29 are respectively disposed. Since the end portions of the adjacent slide support members 218 and 219 are joined, coupled, or in contact with each other, the two slide support members 218 and the two slide support members 219 surround the position input operation unit 29. A square frame is formed.

Then, the operation projection 23 is suspended by a wire 217 inside the frame made up of the slide support members 218 and 219. As shown in FIG. 10, the position input operation unit 29 is provided with two sets of wires 217 each having two sets, for a total of four sets. Of these, one set of wires 217 is disposed across the two slide support members 218, and the other set of wires 217 is disposed across the two slide support members 219.
As described above, the slide support members 218 and 219 are formed with grooves extending in the longitudinal direction, and the grooves open toward the inside of the frame described above. The end of the wire 217 is accommodated in this groove, and the two sets of wires 217 are slidable along the grooves of the slide support members 218 and 219, respectively. The two sets of wires 217 both pass through the through-hole 232A formed in the shaft portion 232 of the operation projection 23, and the shaft portion 232 is an intersection where the two sets of wires 217 are orthogonal. Further, the through hole 232A and the wire 217 are not fixed and are slidable.

According to this configuration, the wire 217 and the slide support member 218, the wire 217 and the slide support member 219, and the wire 217 and the shaft portion 232 are slidable. Therefore, the operation protrusion 23 is supported so as to be freely movable along the surface of the sensor substrate 218 in the longitudinal direction of the slide support member 218 and in the longitudinal direction of the slide support member 219 orthogonal to this direction. Therefore, the operation protrusion 23 can freely move along the surface of the sensor substrate 218. At this time, the wire 217 slides along the slide support member 218 or the slide support member 219 while sliding in the through hole 232A, so that the movement of the operation protrusion 23 is not hindered at all.
Further, since the operation protrusion 23 is supported by the wire 217 at a height position that is lifted from the surface of the sensor substrate 213 by a predetermined distance, the friction between the lower surface of the shaft portion 232 and the surface of the sensor substrate 213 is reduced. Does not occur. For this reason, it is possible to easily move the operation protrusion 23 to an arbitrary position with a small force.
Therefore, according to the fourth embodiment, the same effects as those of the first to third embodiments described above can be obtained. Further, the position input operation unit 29 has a simple configuration in which the operation projection 23 is suspended by the wire 217, and thus can be easily realized at a lower cost.

  In the above-described configuration, the thickness and material of the wire 217 can be arbitrarily changed, and may have any rigidity so long as the operation projection 23 can be supported above the sensor substrate 213 in the absence of user operation. The number is also arbitrary. Further, instead of the wire 217, it is also possible to use a member having an action of supporting the operation protrusion 23 by the slide support members 218 and 219, for example, a metal or resin rod.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the case where the computer main body 4 is remotely operated as described in the above embodiments, and the position input operation unit 22 may be provided integrally with the operation target device. Hereinafter, this case will be described as fifth to seventh embodiments.

[Fifth Embodiment]
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a portable electronic device 51 as an electronic device according to the fifth embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
The portable electronic device 51 is a portable electronic device called a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and has various functions such as a schedule management function and a communication function. The portable electronic device 51 has a display screen 511 formed of a liquid crystal display panel or the like, and displays characters, images, and the like related to the above functions on the display screen 511. In addition, the portable electronic device 51 has a GUI input environment, and can perform execution or switching of the above functions by performing an input designating the position of the pointer 511A displayed on the display screen 511.

  The portable electronic device 51 includes the position input operation unit 22 described above so that the position input operation can be performed. As described in the first embodiment, the position detection unit 22 includes an operation protrusion 23 that is operated by a user's finger so that a position input operation can be performed by moving the operation protrusion 23. It has become. Further, a key switch unit 24 is provided adjacent to the position input operation unit 22, and the switch operation in the key switch unit 24 is possible.

  Therefore, in the portable electronic device 51 shown in FIG. 11, a position input operation and a switch operation can be performed in the same manner as the remote control device 2 according to the first embodiment described above. In the case where the portable electronic device 51 is configured to be lightweight and small, it is desirable that it can be operated with one hand. By providing the position input operation unit 22 in such a portable electronic device 51, the position input operation can be performed with one hand while supporting the main body of the portable electronic device 51 with one hand as shown in FIG. it can. As a result, both hands are not blocked when the portable electronic device 51 is operated. Therefore, the portable electronic device 51 can be easily used even in a standing posture, and the convenience of the portable electronic device 51 can be improved.

[Sixth Embodiment]
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone 52 as an electronic apparatus according to the sixth embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
The mobile phone 52 is a mobile phone, and establishes a communication line with a counterpart device by executing wireless communication with a base station (not shown), thereby realizing a call function and the like. Is. The mobile phone 52 includes a display screen 521 for displaying a telephone number of a call partner and a key operation unit 522 having various keys for inputting a telephone number, turning on / off the power, and the like.

  Further, the cellular phone 52 has a position input operation unit 22 for designating a position in the area displayed on the display screen 521. As described in the first embodiment, the position detection unit 22 includes an operation protrusion 23 that is operated by a user's finger so that a position input operation can be performed by moving the operation protrusion 23. It has become. Further, a key switch unit 24 is provided adjacent to the position input operation unit 22, and the switch operation in the key switch unit 24 is possible.

The mobile phone 52 can execute various functions such as an address book management function in addition to the telephone call function, and includes a GUI input environment for instructing the execution of these functions. Menu items and icons (characters, images, etc.) relating to various functions including a call function are displayed on the display screen 521, and a position input operation for designating the position of a cursor or pointer displayed on the display screen 521 is performed. Thus, the execution or switching of the above functions can be instructed.
The position input operation for designating the position of the cursor or pointer can be performed by pressing a key provided in the key operation unit 522. However, in the mobile phone 52, the operation projection 23 is provided on the position input operation unit 22. The position input operation can be performed by moving it. Further, in the mobile phone 52, the switch of the key switch unit 24 can be operated in combination with the operation of moving the operation protrusion 23.

  Therefore, in the mobile phone 52 shown in FIG. 12, the position input operation and the switch operation can be performed in the same manner as the remote control device 2 according to the first embodiment described above. The mobile phone 52 is usually operated with one hand. Here, when the user holds the mobile phone 52 in one hand as shown in FIG. 12, the position of the position input operation unit 22 is within a range in which the operation protrusion 23 can be operated with the finger (thumb in the example of FIG. 12). The position input operation can be performed with one hand while holding the mobile phone 52 with one hand. Thereby, even if it is unstable postures, such as the state where the user stood, position input operation can be performed reliably. Further, when a position input operation is performed using the key of the key operation unit 522, the key must be pressed many times, a burden on the user's finger is heavy, and it is difficult to perform the operation quickly. On the other hand, since the mobile phone 52 according to the sixth embodiment can perform the position input operation only by moving the operation protrusion 23 in the position input operation unit 22, the position input operation can be performed very quickly and comfortably. In addition, there is an advantage that the burden on the user's finger is very light.

  Note that the mobile phone 52 may be any portable size and shape as long as it has at least a call function and a display screen, and its communication method is arbitrary. Further, the shape of the casing of the mobile phone 52 is not limited to a so-called straight type as shown in FIG. 12, but may be a folding type.

[Seventh Embodiment]
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a notebook computer 53 as an electronic apparatus according to the seventh embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
The notebook computer 53 is a personal computer configured to be portable, and includes a main board on which a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like are mounted, and a device such as a hard disk drive, and a liquid crystal display panel or the like. A display screen 531 is provided.
The notebook computer 53 is provided with a keyboard 532 for performing an input operation, a position input operation unit 22, and a key switch unit 24.

The keyboard 532 includes a plurality of keys, and inputs are performed by pressing these keys.
Further, as described in the first embodiment, the position input operation unit 22 includes the operation protrusion 23 operated by the user's finger, and the position input operation can be performed by moving the operation protrusion 23. It is like that. Further, a key switch unit 24 is provided adjacent to the position input operation unit 22, and the switch operation in the key switch unit 24 is possible.

  The notebook computer 53 can execute various functions by executing various application programs, and includes a GUI input environment for instructing execution of these functions. Icons (characters, images, etc.) related to the above various functions are displayed on the display screen 531, and a position input operation for designating the position of a cursor or pointer displayed on the display screen 531 is performed, thereby executing the above functions. And can be switched. The position input operation for designating the position of the cursor or pointer can be performed by the keyboard 532. However, in the notebook computer 53, the position input operation can be performed by moving the operation protrusion 23 in the position input operation unit 22.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the position input operation unit 22 is arranged so that the user's thumb can reach the operation projection 23 when the casing of the notebook computer 53 is held with one hand. With one hand held, the operation projection 23 can be moved with the finger to perform a position input operation. That is, the position input operation can be performed with only one hand while holding the notebook computer 53. Further, in combination with the position input operation in the position input operation unit 22, it is possible to perform a switch operation in the key switch unit 24 disposed in the vicinity of the position input operation unit 22.

  Therefore, the notebook computer 53 can be operated with one hand while holding it with one hand. For example, the notebook computer 53 can be reliably operated even in an unstable posture such as the user standing, and the position of the position input operation unit 22 can be assured. Since the position input operation can be performed simply by moving the operation protrusion 23, the position input operation can be performed very quickly and comfortably, and the burden on the user's finger is light.

The first to seventh embodiments described above show one embodiment of the present invention, and it is needless to say that modifications and applications can be arbitrarily made within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the first to seventh embodiments, each of the position input operation units 22, 27, 28, 29 has the operation protrusion 23, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the operation side circuit 234 may be built in the flat pedestal 231, and the surface of the flat pedestal 231 exposed on the upper surface of the remote control device main body 21 may be marked with a user-visible mark. In this case, a film having an anti-slip function may be provided on the flat base 231. In this configuration, by performing an operation of moving the mark on the flat base 231 to an arbitrary position, it becomes possible to perform a position input operation, and the same effects as those of the above embodiments can be obtained. Further, the shape and height of the operation projection 23 are also arbitrary.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the position of the operation projection 23 is determined based on the electromagnetic action between the coil 235 of the operation side circuit 234 and the loop coil groups 241 and 242 disposed on the sensor substrate 213. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the position of the operation protrusion 23 may be detected by a capacitance method. That is, at a specific position of the flat pedestal 231, a conductor piece is provided on the lower surface or inside thereof, and a plurality of insulated wires are laid on the sensor substrate 213, and a change in electrostatic capacitance between these wires is detected. Thus, the position of the operation protrusion 23 can be detected. In this case, the conductor piece projects as a tapered projection on the lower surface of the operation projection 23, that is, the surface facing the sensor substrate 213, and the projected conductor piece contacts the sensor substrate 213. Since the position of the conductor piece is detected at, position input operation can be performed with high accuracy. Here, the conductor piece need not be exposed, and the conductor piece may be covered with resin or the like.
Further, the operation side circuit 234 built in the operation projection 23 is eliminated, and the sensor substrate 213 detects a pressing operation by providing a resistance film or the like whose electric resistance value changes according to the pressing force. It may be. In this case, when an operation of pressing the operation protrusion 23 is performed, the position where the pressing operation is performed can be detected on the sensor substrate 213. In this case, if a tapered projection is provided on the lower surface of the operation projection 23, that is, the surface facing the sensor substrate 213, and the sensor substrate 213 is pressed by the tip of this projection, the tip of the projection on the sensor substrate 213 Since the position is detected, the position input operation can be performed with high accuracy.
In any of these cases, the same effects as those of the above embodiments can be obtained in that the user can perform a position input operation with one hand.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the computer system which concerns on 1st Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the structure of a remote control device. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the structure of the position input operation part which a remote control apparatus has. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the structure of the operation protrusion in a position input operation part. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of a computer system. It is a figure which shows the structure of the position detection circuit which a remote control apparatus has. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the structure of the position input operation part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the structure of the position input operation part which concerns on 3rd Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the structure of the position input operation part which concerns on 4th Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a principal part top view which shows the structure of the position input operation part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the portable electronic device which concerns on 5th Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the structure of the mobile telephone based on 6th Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the structure of the notebook type computer which concerns on 7th Embodiment to which this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

1 Computer System 2 Remote Control Device 3 Television Receiver 4 Computer Body (Computer)
20 position detection circuit (position detection means)
21 Remote control device (main unit)
22, 27, 28, 29 Position input operation unit (position input device)
23 Operation protrusion (operation protrusion)
24 Key switch part 30A Pointer 41 CPU (control means)
42 ROM
43 RAM
44 Storage unit 45 Input unit 46 Light receiving unit (receiving means)
47 I / F section 48 Display section (display means)
51 Portable electronic devices (electronic devices)
52 Mobile phone (electronic equipment)
53 Notebook computer (electronic equipment)
201 Control Unit 202 Key Operation Detection Unit 203 Light Emitting Unit (Wireless Transmission Unit)
211 Front plate 212 Back plate 213 Sensor substrate (sense part)
214 Friction material (friction layer)
216 Ball support (rolling support)
217 wire (support mechanism)
218, 219 Slide support member (support mechanism)
231 Flat base (flat plate part)
232 Shaft part 233, 233A Contact surface 234 Operation side circuit 235 Coil 236 Ferrite core 237 Capacitor 238 IC
239 Spacer 240 Tact switch 241, 242 Loop coil group 511, 521, 531 Display screen

Claims (14)

A sense unit having a detection surface, an operation element supported so as to be movable along the detection surface of the sense unit, and a position detection unit that detects a position of the operation element with respect to the detection surface;
A position input device comprising:   The position input device according to claim 1, wherein the operation element includes a flat plate portion disposed so as to overlap the detection surface and an operation projection portion erected on the flat plate portion.   The position input device according to claim 2, wherein an upper surface of the operation protrusion is configured by a curved surface.   The position according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a friction layer that generates a predetermined friction when the flat plate portion is moved relative to the detection surface is interposed between the flat plate portion and the detection surface. Input device.   4. A position input device according to claim 2, wherein a rolling support portion is provided between the flat plate portion and the detection surface, the rolling support portion rolling while the flat plate portion moves while supporting the flat plate portion. .   The position input device according to claim 1, further comprising a support mechanism that slidably supports the operation element along the detection surface in a predetermined direction and a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. A coil is built in each of the sense unit and the operation element,
The position detecting means detects the position of the manipulator based on electromagnetic coupling generated between coils incorporated in the sense section and the manipulator;
The position input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The position input device according to claim 7, wherein the coil included in the sense unit is a plurality of loop coils forming a ring along a detection surface of the sense unit.   The position detection means detects the position of the operation element with respect to the detection surface based on an electrostatic coupling state between the sense unit and the operation element. The position input device according to any one of the above.   The position detection means detects the position of the operation element relative to the detection surface by detecting a pressing force applied to the detection surface from the operation element. The position input device according to any one of the above. A position input device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
Wireless transmission means for wirelessly transmitting a signal indicating the position of the operation element detected by the position input device;
A remote control device characterized by comprising: A main body having a hollow portion is provided, and one surface of the main body is provided with a hole communicating with the hollow portion,
The remote controller according to claim 11, wherein a sense portion of the position input device is accommodated in the hollow portion, and at least a part of an operator of the position input device is exposed from a hole communicating with the hollow portion. apparatus. A remote control device according to claim 11 or 12,
Display means for displaying an image on a display screen, receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted by a wireless transmission means provided in the remote control device, and changing the display on the display screen based on the signal received by the receiving means A computer comprising control means;
A computer system comprising: A position input device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and a display screen, wherein the display on the display screen is changed based on a position detected by the position input device.
Electronic equipment characterized by

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