JP2007304941A - Track ball device and electronic instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a track ball device and electronic instrument capable of providing certain operability. <P>SOLUTION: A sphere 13 stored in a storage section 12 of a case 11 is elastically held by a holding means 20 disposed on the inner surface 12a of the storage section 12, and does not come into contact with the inner surface 12a of the storage section 12. When the sphere 13 is pressed in toward the bottom 12b of the storage section 12 while the holding means 20 is elastically moved back, rolling of the sphere 13 is gradually suppressed by elastically coming into contact with a suppressing means 40. Therefore, by rolling the sphere 13 while the rolling is suppressed to some extent, a fine pointer can be moved. When the pointer or the like is positioned and then the sphere 13 is pressed in, the sphere 13 is moved while the rolling is suppressed to some extent, and hence the position of the pointer or the like can be defined at an accurate position by pressing a press switch 14 without changing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a trackball device and an electronic device, and more particularly to a trackball device and an electronic device that can be used as a data input device in an electronic device such as an information processing device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a trackball device has been adopted as means for performing a desired operation by moving an indication point such as a pointer or cursor displayed on a display screen to an arbitrary position.
The trackball device includes a trackball that is held in a housing so as to be rotatable in all directions, and a pair of roller members that are in contact with the trackball and rotatably supported by a user. A pointer or the like is moved to a desired position on the display screen by rotating the ball.
Such a trackball device then confirms the operation target by clicking a confirmation button disposed in the vicinity of the trackball.

In recent years, a trackball device that is a data input device that controls the rotation of a trackball in accordance with the position of a pointer or the like is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
As shown in FIG. 5, the trackball device 100 described in Patent Document 1 has a sphere 101 that can rotate in any direction, and the sphere 101 is exposed at the top thereof so that the user can contact it. Can be operated. The sphere 101 is rotatably supported by wheels 102 and 103 that are in contact with the sphere 101 on the X and Y axes orthogonal to each other with the sphere 101 as the origin. Shafts 102a and 103a are integrally attached to both wheels 102 and 103, respectively. The shaft 102a is provided with a position sensor (XPOS) 104 in the X-axis direction, a brake (XBRAKE) 105, and an acceleration means (XACC) 106. Data is sent from the position sensor 104 to the processing device 110 and the processing device. Under the control of 110, the brake (XBRAKE) 105 and the acceleration means (XACC) 106 are operated. The shaft 103a is provided with a Y-axis position sensor (YPOS) 107, a brake (YBRAKE) 108, and an acceleration means (YACC) 109. Data is sent from the position sensor 107 to the processing device 110, and Under the control of the processing device 110, the brake 108 and the acceleration means 109 are operated.
Japanese Patent No. 36552378 (FIG. 2)

  By the way, in general, a trackball device rolls a sphere with a user's belly or finger, so that when the user pushes the sphere with a hand or finger and clicks or double-clicks, the hand or finger placed on the sphere is moved. May move and roll the sphere. For this reason, a click or the like may occur when the pointer or the like is deviated from a desired position.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a trackball device and an electronic apparatus that can obtain reliable operability.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a trackball device according to the present invention includes a sphere that is accommodated in an accommodating portion provided in a housing and has a spherical surface projecting, and an inner surface of the accommodating portion that is provided on the inner surface of the accommodating portion. The holding means for holding the sphere so as not to come into contact with the inner surface of the housing portion by being elastically contacted, the detecting means for detecting the rolling of the sphere with respect to the housing, and the holding means are elastically When the sphere is moved toward the bottom of the housing portion while being retracted, the sphere is elastically contacted with the sphere to suppress rolling of the sphere, and the sphere is moved while being elastically deformed. And a pressing switch that is pressed against the sphere when moved toward the bottom of the housing portion.

  In the trackball apparatus configured as described above, when the spherical surface of the sphere accommodated in the housing housing and protruding is rotated by a hand or a finger, the detecting means detects the rolling of the sphere and moves the pointer or the like. Move. Note that the sphere is elastically held by holding means provided on the inner surface of the housing portion so as not to contact the inner surface of the housing portion. Then, when the sphere is pushed toward the bottom of the housing portion while the holding means is elastically retracted, the sphere is elastically contacted with the restraining means, and the resistance is gradually increased to suppress rolling. A fine pointer can be moved by rolling the sphere in a state where the movement is suppressed. Further, when the sphere is further pushed after positioning the pointer or the like, the sphere is moved in a state in which the rolling of the sphere is further suppressed, so that it can be determined by pressing the push switch without changing the position of the pointer or the like at an accurate position.

  The trackball device according to the present invention is characterized in that the suppressing means and the pressing switch are arranged along a movement line of the sphere.

  In the trackball device configured as described above, since the suppressing means and the pressing switch are arranged on the same line along the moving line into which the sphere is pushed, the size can be reduced.

  In the trackball device according to the present invention, the detection unit includes an elastically deformable elastic piece provided on an inner surface of the housing portion, and a detection unit that is supported by the elastic piece and contacts the sphere. The holding means includes an elastic piece provided on the inner surface of the housing portion and a contact piece supported by the elastic piece and contacting the sphere, and the detecting means also serves as the holding means. It is characterized by.

  In the trackball device configured as described above, by using common parts for the detection means and the holding means, the number of parts can be reduced, the structure can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including the trackball device according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention.

  In the electronic apparatus configured as described above, when the sphere of the trackball device that is the input unit is pushed in, the sphere rolls in a state of being suppressed by the suppression unit, so that a fine pointer can be moved. it can. Further, when the sphere is further pushed after positioning the pointer or the like, the sphere is moved in a state where rolling of the sphere is suppressed, so that the position of the pointer or the like can be determined by pressing the push switch without moving from the accurate position.

  According to the present invention, when the sphere of the trackball device, which is the input means, is pushed in, the sphere rolls in a state of being restrained by the restraining means, so that a fine pointer can be moved. Further, if the sphere is further pushed after positioning the pointer, etc., the sphere is moved in a state where rolling of the sphere is suppressed, so that the operation object can be determined by pressing the push switch without changing the position of the pointer, etc. at an accurate position. An effect is obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 is a cross-sectional view showing a trackball device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the trackball is pushed halfway, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the trackball is further pushed in and confirmed. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portable terminal which is an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a trackball device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a sphere 13 that is accommodated in an accommodating portion 12 provided in a housing 11 and from which a spherical surface 13a protrudes so as to be rotatable in all directions. is doing. A holding means 20 is provided on the inner surface 12 a of the housing portion 12, and holds the sphere so as not to contact the inner surface 12 a of the housing portion 12 by elastically contacting the sphere 13. The rolling of the sphere 13 relative to the housing 11 is detected by the detection means 30.
Furthermore, when the sphere 13 is moved toward the bottom 12b of the housing portion 12 while the holding means 20 is elastically retracted, the suppression means 40 that suppresses rolling of the sphere 13 by elastic contact with the sphere 13; The pressure switch 14 is pressed by the sphere 13 when the sphere 13 is moved toward the bottom 12b of the housing portion 12 while elastically deforming the suppressing means 40.

The housing portion 12 is recessed in the casing 11 so that at least half of the sphere 13 is buried. For example, the lower half is generally spherical, but may have other shapes. The opening 12 c of the housing portion 12 is provided above the equator (maximum horizontal outer periphery) portion of the sphere 12 and smaller than the diameter of the sphere 12.
Thereby, the spherical body 12 is prevented from falling off from the accommodating portion 12.

The holding means 20 is provided on the inner surface 12 a of the housing portion 12, and holds the sphere so that the sphere 13 does not contact the inner surface 12 a of the housing portion 12.
For this reason, the holding means 20 includes a leaf spring 21 as an elastic piece whose one end is rigidly connected to the inner surface 12 a of the storage portion 12, and a contact piece attached to the leaf spring 21 and elastically contacting the sphere 13. And a support protrusion 22 as a support.

When the support protrusion 22 makes point contact with the sphere 13 like a sphere or a cylinder, the leaf spring 21 and the support protrusion 22 need to be provided at least three locations below the equator in order to support the sphere 13.
Further, it may be provided above the equator so as to prevent the sphere 13 from dropping out of the accommodating portion 12.

On the other hand, when the support protrusion 22 has an arc shape in line contact with the spherical surface 13 a of the sphere 13, two support protrusions 22 can be provided at positions facing each other.
Accordingly, when the sphere 13 is pushed in by applying an external force F toward the bottom portion 12b of the housing portion 12, the sphere 13 moves while elastically deforming the leaf spring 21 via the support protrusion 22, and rises when the external force F is removed. Return to the original position.
The support protrusion 22 preferably has a small frictional resistance with the spherical surface 13a in order to hold the sphere 13 rotatably.

  The detection means 30 is provided on the inner surface 12 a of the housing portion 12 and detects the rolling of the sphere 13 with respect to the housing 11. Therefore, the detection means 30 includes a leaf spring 31 as an elastically deformable elastic piece provided on the inner surface 12 a of the housing portion 12, and a sensor 32 that is a detection portion that is supported by the leaf spring 31 and contacts the sphere 13. The sensor 32 is constantly urged so as to come into contact with the spherical surface 13 a of the sphere 13 by the elastic force of the leaf spring 31. The sensor 32 is an optical sensor. For example, two mechanical rotary encoders may be arranged in the orthogonal direction.

  Note that it is desirable to reduce the types of parts by using the leaf spring 21 in the holding means 20 and the leaf spring 31 in the detection means 30 as common parts. Furthermore, it is desirable that the sensor 32 also supports the sphere 13 so that the detection means 30 also serves as the holding means 20. Thereby, by using a common component, the number of components can be reduced, the structure can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.

The restraining means 40 is provided on the bottom portion 12b of the accommodating portion 12, and makes elastic contact when the sphere 13 is pushed toward the bottom portion 12b of the accommodating portion 12 while elastically deforming the leaf spring 21 of the holding means 20. The rotation braking part 41 which has is provided. The rotation braking unit 41 and the pressing switch 14 are desirably arranged along the movement line of the sphere 13.
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the pressing switch 14 is attached to the bottom 12 b of the housing portion 12, and the rotation braking portion 41 is provided on the pressing switch 14, thereby reducing the size of the apparatus. Therefore, by pushing the sphere 13 downward, rolling of the sphere 13 can be suppressed, and by pushing further, the push switch 14 can be pushed and turned on.

It is also possible to provide the rotation braking portion 41 directly on the bottom 12 b of the housing portion 12 and attach the pressing switch 14 at a position different from the rotation braking portion 41.
Moreover, since the rotation braking part 41 prevents rolling of the sphere 13 by a frictional force, it is desirable to use a material having a large friction coefficient with the sphere 13.

Next, the operation of the trackball device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, when the pointer or cursor is moved when the sphere 13 is not used or the sphere 13 is rotated, the user moves the exposed upper spherical surface 13a of the sphere 13 with a finger or hand. 13 is rolled. The spherical body 13 is supported by the holding means 20 so as not to contact the inner surface 12a of the housing portion 12,
Moreover, since it does not contact the rotation braking part 41 of the suppression means 40, it rotates easily. The rotation of the sphere 13 is detected by the sensor 32 of the detecting means, and information is sent to the processing device (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, when the spherical body 13 is lightly pushed in one step, the leaf spring 21 of the holding means 20 is elastically deformed downward and the leaf spring 31 of the detection means 30 is also elastically deformed. The state which contacted 13a is maintained. For this reason, since the sphere 13 descends and the lower part contacts the rotation braking portion 41 of the suppressing means 40, the rotation resistance of the sphere 13 increases.
Thereby, the fine rolling of the spherical body 13 can be easily performed, and a delicate movement of the pointer or the like can be easily performed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the sphere 13 is further pushed in, the sphere 13 strongly presses the rotation braking portion 41 along with the deformation of the holding means 20 and the detection means 30. For this reason, the rotational resistance of the sphere 13 is further increased, or rolling of the sphere 13 is suppressed, and the operation target of the push switch 14 is determined via the rotation braking portion 41.

  As described above, according to the trackball device 10 described above, when the sphere 13 accommodated in the accommodating portion 12 is rotated by a hand or a finger, the sensor 32 detects the rolling of the sphere 13 and moves the pointer or the like. When the sphere 13 is pushed toward the bottom 12b of the housing portion 12 while the leaf spring 21 of the holding means 20 is elastically deformed, the sphere 13 is elastically brought into contact with the rotation braking portion 41 of the restraining means 40 and gradually rolls. Since the movement is suppressed, a fine pointer can be moved by rolling the sphere 13 in a state in which the rolling is suppressed to some extent. Further, when the sphere 13 is further pushed after positioning the pointer or the like, the sphere 13 moves in a state where the rolling of the sphere 13 is suppressed. Therefore, the operation is performed by pressing the push switch 14 without moving the position of the pointer or the like from the accurate position. The target can be determined.

Next, an example of an electronic apparatus using the above-described trackball device 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, for example, a portable terminal 50 as an electronic device has an upper casing 50A and a lower casing 50B that is foldably connected to the upper casing 50A via a connecting portion 50C. Yes. The upper housing 50A includes a main display unit 51 such as an LCD, a receiver 52, and the like on the surface. Moreover, although not shown in figure, the back surface is equipped with a sub display part, a speaker, etc.

On the other hand, the lower housing 50B includes a main operation unit 53, a microphone 54, and the like on which various keys 53a are arranged on the surface, a memory card insertion slot lid 55, and the like on a side end surface, and a control unit, a communication unit, and the like. A circuit board provided and an antenna connected to the communication unit are accommodated. The main operation unit 53 is provided with the trackball device 10 described above, and for example, a cursor, a pointer, and the like displayed on the main display unit 51 can be moved, selected, and confirmed.
The connecting portion 50 is a hinge in which a connecting shaft 56 is disposed along the boundary between the upper housing 50A and the lower housing 50B.

  Therefore, in the portable terminal 50, the main display unit 51 and the main operation unit 53 face each other by relatively rotating the upper housing 50A and the lower housing 50B around the connection shaft 56 of the connection portion 50C. Thus, the upper casing 50A and the lower casing 50B are stacked in a portable state, and the upper casing 50A and the lower casing 50B are arranged adjacent to each other so that the display unit 51 and the main operation unit 53 face substantially the same direction. A state (state shown in FIG. 4) can be selected.

  As described above, according to the portable terminal 50 described above, when the sphere 13 of the trackball device 10 of the main operation unit 53 is pushed, the sphere 13 rolls the sphere 13 while being restrained by the restraining means 40. Even when the terminal 50 is operated, a fine pointer or the like can be moved. Further, when the sphere 13 is further pushed after positioning the pointer or the like, the sphere 13 is moved in a state in which the rolling of the sphere 13 is suppressed, so that it can be determined by pressing the push switch 14 without changing the position of the pointer or the like at an accurate position.

The trackball device 10 and the portable terminal 50 of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate modifications and improvements can be made.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the foldable portable terminal 50 having the trackball device 10 is exemplified as the electronic device. However, the electronic device of the present invention can also be applied to, for example, a personal computer.

  As described above, when the trackball device and the electronic apparatus according to the present invention push in the sphere of the trackball device as the input means, the sphere rolls in a state of being restrained by the restraining means. Can be moved. In addition, if the sphere is further pushed after positioning the pointer, etc., the sphere is moved in a state where rolling of the sphere is suppressed, so that the push switch can be pressed and confirmed without changing the position of the pointer, etc. However, it is useful as a trackball device and an electronic device that can be used as a data input device in an electronic device such as an information processing device.

It is sectional drawing which shows the trackball apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which pushed the trackball into the 1st step. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which pushed and confirmed the trackball. It is a perspective view of the portable terminal which is an electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the trackball apparatus which is the conventional data input device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Trackball apparatus 11 Housing | casing 12 Storage part 12a Inner surface 12b Bottom part 13 Sphere 13a Spherical surface 14 Press switch 20 Holding means 21 Leaf spring (elastic piece)
22 Support protrusion (contact piece)
30 detection means 31 leaf spring (elastic piece)
32 sensor (detection unit)
40 Inhibiting means 50 Mobile terminal (electronic device)

Claims (4)

A spherical body that is accommodated in an accommodating portion provided in the housing and has a spherical surface;
Holding means for holding the sphere so as not to come into contact with the inner surface of the housing portion by being elastically contacted with the sphere and provided on the inner surface of the housing portion;
Detecting means for detecting rolling of the sphere with respect to the housing;
Suppression means for suppressing rolling of the sphere by elastically contacting the sphere when the sphere is moved toward the bottom of the housing portion while elastically retracting the holding means;
A trackball device comprising: a pressing switch that is pressed against the sphere when the sphere is moved toward the bottom of the housing portion while elastically deforming the suppressing means.   The trackball device according to claim 1, wherein the suppressing unit and the pressing switch are arranged along a movement line of the sphere. The detection means includes an elastically deformable elastic piece provided on the inner surface of the housing part, and a detection part that is supported by the elastic piece and contacts the sphere,
The holding means has an elastic piece provided on the inner surface of the housing portion, and a contact piece supported by the elastic piece and contacting the sphere,
The trackball device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit also serves as the holding unit.   An electronic apparatus comprising the trackball device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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