JP2010231813A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive input device having excellent operability. <P>SOLUTION: The input device having a plurality of input parts includes: a detection means for detecting that one input part among the plurality of input parts is operated; and a control means for outputting input information from one input part after elapse of a prescribed time, when detecting by the detection means that one input part is operated within a prescribed time, and for outputting input information from two or more input parts, when two or more input parts among the plurality of input parts are operated within the prescribed time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to an input device for performing an input operation for moving a three-dimensional model in an arbitrary direction.

  In recent years, three-dimensional graphics have been actively used in the field of computer graphics. Therefore, an input device that can easily perform three-dimensional graphics is desired.

  A mouse is generally used as an input device for a computer. The mouse was operated in a biaxial direction by moving on a plane. On the other hand, in order to operate 3D graphics, it is necessary to perform operations in 6-axis directions. When manipulating 3D graphics using a mouse, the 3D graphics are manipulated by switching the axis to be manipulated.

  However, in conventional input devices such as a mouse, operations in the two-axis directions of the X-axis and the Y-axis are common, and three-dimensional graphics having six-axis operation directions cannot be freely operated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input device that is inexpensive and has good assemblability and operability.

  A first reference example of the present invention is a circuit in which an upper case having a rib formed to extend in a predetermined direction on an inner surface and an operation unit are mounted and temporarily fixed by the rib of the upper case at the time of assembly. The circuit board includes a board and a holding member that is fixed to the upper case after the circuit board is temporarily fixed to the rib, and clamps the circuit board with the upper case to fix the circuit board.

  According to the first reference example, by forming the rib on the inner surface of the upper case in a predetermined direction, the mold used for forming the inner side of the upper case can be configured with a single mold, and thus the mold is inexpensive. In addition, the manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

  In the second reference example, when the circuit board is temporarily fixed to the rib, the circuit board is temporarily fixed by being inclined with respect to the extending direction of the rib, and then fixed in an inclined state by the holding member.

  According to the second reference example, the circuit board can be freely arranged without impairing the assembling property.

  In the third reference example, the circuit board is temporarily fixed by engaging the lower end portion with one rib and engaging the upper end convex portion with a claw portion formed on the side surface of another rib.

  In the fourth reference example, an engagement hole is provided in the circuit board, and the engagement hole is engaged with one rib, rotated around the engagement hole in the upper case direction, and the lower end portion is formed on another rib. Temporarily fix by engaging.

  According to the third and fourth reference examples, the circuit board can be temporarily fixed while being inclined in a direction different from the extending direction of the ribs.

  Claim 1 detects that one input unit has been operated among a plurality of input units, and when it is detected that one input unit has been operated within a predetermined time, Input information is output from the input unit, and when two or more input units among a plurality of input units are operated within a predetermined time, input information from the two or more input units is output.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to accept both an operation of performing an input by using two or more input units among a plurality of input units and an operation of performing an input by a single input unit without performing a switching operation. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, when two or more preset input units among a plurality of input units are operated within a predetermined time, input information from the two or more input units is output.

  According to the second aspect, erroneous operation can be prevented by accepting operations of two or more input units only when two or more preset input units are operated within a predetermined time.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined command is received from the host device, input information obtained by operating two or more input units among the plurality of input units is output to the host device.

  According to the third aspect, it is possible to accept operations by two or more input units according to the command.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to output input information from one predetermined input unit among a plurality of input units at the time of activation, and from two or more input units among the plurality of input units by other predetermined operations. The input information can be output.

  According to claim 4, at the time of start-up, by enabling the same input operation as a normal input device, by enabling input information from two or more input units among a plurality of input units by a predetermined operation, When there is no need to perform an operation with two or more input units, an operation similar to that of a normal input device can be performed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when a command indicating that the host device can receive input information from two or more input units is supplied, the plurality of input units can be operated according to an operation of another predetermined input unit. Of these, input information from two or more input units is set in a state where it can be output.

  According to claim 5, when the host device can receive operations by two or more input units, the operation by two or more input units becomes possible, and when the host device cannot accept operations, the normal input operation is performed. Is possible.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the frequency of use of the plurality of input units is detected, the scan frequency of the frequently used input unit is increased, and the scan frequency of the less frequently used input unit is decreased.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when an input unit whose use frequency is lowered among a plurality of input units is operated, the scan frequency of the input unit is temporarily increased.

  According to the sixth and seventh aspects, by controlling the scan frequency in accordance with the frequency of use of the input unit, it is possible to reduce unnecessary scans to the input unit, so that the input operation can be speeded up.

  If it is the input device of this invention, it is cheap and can make assembly property and operativity favorable.

It is a perspective view of one Example of this invention. It is a top view at the time of operation of one Example of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the apparatus main body of one Example of this invention. It is a reverse view of the upper case of one Example of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the attachment method of the circuit board of one Example of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the attachment method of the circuit board of one Example of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the attachment method of the circuit board of one Example of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the attachment method of the circuit board of one Example of this invention. It is a reverse view of the upper case after the board | substrate assembly | attachment of one Example of this invention. It is a block block diagram of one Example of this invention. It is a process flowchart of MPU of one Example of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of MPU of one Example of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the arrangement position of the switch of one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram of the modification of one Example of this invention.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view during operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

  The input device 1 according to this embodiment includes a device main body 2 and a cable 5. The apparatus main body 2 is connected to a computer via a cable 5 and processed by the computer. The apparatus main body 2 mainly includes a palm rest part 11 and an operation part 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an operator's hand 21 is attached to the palm rest portion 11 on the rear inclined surface 30. A first operation lever 3-1 and a first switch 4-1 are disposed on the right side surface 31 of the palm rest 11. A second operation lever 3-2 and a second switch 4-2 are disposed on the left side surface of the palm rest portion 11. Further, a third operation lever 3-3 is disposed on the front inclined surface 33 of the palm rest portion 11.

  The operation unit 12 is disposed in front of the palm rest unit 11, and a fourth operation lever 3-4 and third to fifth switches 4-3 to 4-5 are disposed on the upper surface 34. By operating the first to fourth operation levers 3-1 to 3-4, operations such as movement and rotation of the three-dimensional graphics can be performed.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an apparatus main body according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a rear view of an upper case according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The apparatus body 2 includes an upper case 41, a lower case 42, a holding member 43, and circuit boards 44 to 48.

  A first operation lever 3-1 and a first switch 4-1 are mounted on the circuit board 44. A second operation lever 3-2 and a second switch 4-2 are mounted on the circuit board 45. A third operation lever 3-3 is mounted on the circuit board 46. The circuit board 47 is mounted with a fourth operation lever 3-4 and third to fifth switches 4-3 to 4-5. Further, a processing circuit such as an MPU is mounted on the circuit board 48.

  The circuit boards 44, 45, 46 are temporarily fixed to the upper case 41 by ribs 51 and claw portions 52 that are formed inside the upper case 41. The rib 51 is formed to extend in a direction (arrow A direction) substantially orthogonal to the opening surface of the upper case 41.

  Thus, by forming all the ribs 51 in the direction of arrow A, the upper case 41 can be formed by a pair of inner and outer molds. For this reason, a metal mold | die can be made cheap compared with the case where it divides | segments into several. Furthermore, the manufacturing efficiency of the upper case 41 can be improved. In this way, the mold can be made inexpensive and the manufacturing efficiency can be increased, whereby the entire input device 1 can be manufactured at low cost.

  The circuit boards 44, 45, 46 are temporarily fixed by ribs 51 formed on the inner surface of the upper case 41.

  5 to 8 are views for explaining a circuit board mounting method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  When the circuit board 44 is temporarily fixed to the upper case 41, first, the lower end of the circuit board 44 is fitted to the convex portion 51a formed on the rib 51 as shown in FIGS. Rotate in the direction of arrow B with the lower end 44a of 44 as a fulcrum. By rotating the circuit board 44 in the arrow B direction with the lower end 44a as a fulcrum, the upper end 44b of the circuit board 44 abuts against the claw portion 52 formed on the rib 51b. After the upper end 44b of the circuit board 44 hits the claw portion 52, the circuit board 44 is further rotated in the arrow B direction so that the side end of the circuit board 44 gets over the claw portion 52, as shown in FIG. The circuit board 44 is temporarily fixed to the upper case 41. At this time, the upper end 44b of the circuit board 44 protrudes outward from the lower end 44c, the upper end 44b gets over the claw portion 52, the lower end 44c escapes from the claw portion 52, and is temporarily attached to the upper case 41. Stopped.

  The circuit board 45 is temporarily fixed to the upper case 41 in the same manner as the circuit board 44.

  When the circuit board 46 is temporarily fixed to the upper case 41, first, the rib 51c of the upper case 41 is engaged with the hole 46a formed above the circuit board 46 as shown in FIGS. Next, the circuit board 46 is rotated in the direction of arrow C with the hole 46a as a fulcrum. By rotating the circuit board 46 in the direction of arrow C, the lower end 46b of the circuit board 46 is engaged with and temporarily fixed to the step portion 51d formed on the rib 51.

  In this way, the circuit boards 44, 45, 46 are temporarily fixed while being inclined with respect to the direction of the arrow A that is the extending direction of the rib 51. The circuit boards 47 and 48 are fixed by screwing screws 61 into the ribs 51e.

  After the circuit boards 44, 45, 46 are temporarily fixed, the holding member 43 is fixed to the upper case 41 by screwing the screws 62 into the ribs 51f. The holding member 43 has right and left side surfaces inclined according to the mounting angle of the circuit boards 44 and 45, and a front side surface is inclined according to the mounting angle of the circuit board 46. The circuit boards 44, 45, 46 are sandwiched between the left and right and front side surfaces of the holding member 43 and the upper case 41 and fixed in an inclined state.

  FIG. 9 is a back view of the upper case after the board assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The circuit boards 44, 45, 46, 47 are connected to the circuit board 48 by a cable 71. The circuit board 48 reads operation signals from the circuit boards 44, 45, 46, 47, performs processing as described later, and supplies it to the computer from the cable 5. In addition, power is supplied from the computer via the cable 5, and the apparatus is driven by the power from the computer.

  A claw portion 43a for holding the cable 71 is formed on the bottom surface of the holding member 43, and the cable 71 is held by the claw portion 43a, so that the assembling property is improved. Moreover, disconnection etc. can be prevented.

  As shown in FIG. 9, after the circuit boards 44 to 48 and the holding member 43 are attached, the lower case 41 is attached to the upper case 41 by screwing the screws 63 into the ribs 51 g of the upper case 41 via the lower case 42. Then, the assembly of the input device 1 is completed.

  Next, the operation detection operation will be described.

  FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The MPU 100 generates data based on signals from the first to fourth operation levers 3-1 to 3-4 and the first to fifth switches 4-1 to 4-5, and transmits the data to the computer via the cable 5. .

  FIG. 11 shows a process flowchart of the MPU according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  When the activation process is performed in step S1, the input device 1 is a predetermined one of the first to fourth operation levers 3-1 to 3-4, for example, the fourth operation lever 3-4 in step S2. Becomes active and works as a normal mouse. Next, in step S3, it is determined whether or not a command indicating the presence of a driver capable of operating a three-dimensional image is transmitted from the computer. If a command indicating the presence of the driver is not transmitted in step S3, In step S2, a state in which only the fourth operation lever 3-4 is activated is maintained.

  When a command indicating the presence of a driver is notified from the computer in step S3, a predetermined switch, for example, the first switch 4 among the first to fifth switches 4-1 to 4-5 is received in step S4. It is determined whether -1 has been operated. In step S4, when the predetermined switch and the first switch 4-1 are operated, all of the first to fourth operation levers 3-1 to 3-4 are activated, and three-dimensional graphic operation is possible.

  When the first to fourth operation levers 3-1 to 3-4 are activated in step S4, the MPU 100 firstly includes the first to fourth operation levers 3-1 to 3-4 and the first to fifth operations in step S5. Data from the switches 4-1 to 4-5 is scanned. At this time, when scanning the data from the first to fourth operation levers 3-1 to 3-4 and the first to fifth switches 4-1 to 4-5 in step S5, the power is turned on immediately before each section is scanned. Turn on the power and immediately turn it off. Thereby, power consumption can be reduced.

  Further, the use frequency of the first to fourth operation levers 3-1 to 3-4 is stored in the MPU 100, the scan frequency of the operation lever having a high use frequency is increased during the scan in step S1, and the use frequency is low. Keep the operating lever scan frequency low. Furthermore, when an operation lever with low usage frequency is operated, the frequency of scanning the operation lever is increased for a predetermined time. Thus, unnecessary scanning can be reduced, and high-speed processing and power consumption can be reduced.

  Next, in step S6, it is determined whether there is change data in the scan result in step S5.

  If there is change data in step S6, the operation frequency of the first to fourth operation levers 3-1 to 3-4 set in the MPU 100 is updated in step S7.

  Next, in step S8, it is determined whether there is one change data. If the number of data changed in step S7 is one, it is determined in step S9 whether the data has been maintained for a certain period of time. If the data lasts for a predetermined time in step S9, the data is matched with a prescribed format in step S10 and then transmitted to the cable 5.

  In step S8, if there is not one change data, the first to fourth operation levers 3-1 to 3-4 and the first to fifth switches 4-1 to 4-1 among the plurality of change data in step S11. The data combined in advance with respect to the changed data from 4-5 is adjusted to the specified format and then transmitted to the cable 5. For example, when there is a change in the data from the first operation lever 3-1 and the data from the second operation lever 3-2, it is determined that the operation is to rotate around the Z axis on the screen. Send as specified format. At this time, if there is a change in data other than the predetermined combination, it is determined that the operator has made an erroneous operation, and data is not transmitted.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the MPU according to the embodiment of the present invention. 12A shows data from the first to fourth operation levers 3-1 to 3-4, and FIG. 12B shows data sent from the cable 5.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, at time tn−1, the data from the second operation lever 3-2 is changed from “5h” to “0h”, and the data from the fourth operation lever 3-4 is “ 80h ”is changed to“ 88h ”. At this time, when the second operation lever 3-2 and the fourth operation lever 3-4 are configured to be paired, steps S5, S6, S7 in FIG. S8 and S11 are executed, and the data “0h” of the second operation lever 3-2 and the data “88h” of the fourth operation lever 3-4 are transferred to the cable 5 at time t1n-1 as shown in FIG. Is output.

  Next, when the data from the fourth operation lever 3-4 is changed from “88h” to “102h” at time tn as shown in FIG. 12A, steps S5 to S10 in FIG. 11 are executed. As shown in FIG. 12B, the data “102h” of the fourth operating lever 3-4 is output to the cable 5 at time t1n.

  Thereby, the computer side only needs to process the data from the input device 1 as it is. For example, the computer side distinguishes between the case where one operation lever is operated and the case where two operation levers are operated simultaneously. There is no need to do it. Therefore, the processing burden on the computer side can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, the first to fifth switches 4-1 to 4-5 are provided. However, a large number of switches may be further provided. However, in this case, since the operator's hand is placed on the palm rest portion 11 as shown by hatching in FIG. 13, a switch is provided in a portion other than the area shown by hatching in FIG.

  Moreover, when providing a switch in the palm rest part 11, the recessed part 201 is provided in the surface of the palm rest part 11, and the switch 202 is provided in the recessed part 201 as shown in FIG. Thereby, an erroneous operation of the switch 202 can be prevented.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various modification is possible based on description of a claim.

  As described above, according to the first reference example, by forming the rib on the inner surface of the upper case in a predetermined direction, the mold used for forming the inner side of the upper case can be configured with a single mold, The mold can be made inexpensive and the production efficiency can be improved.

  According to the second reference example, since the circuit board can be freely arranged without impairing the assembling property, the input unit can be arranged at a position with good operability, and thus an input device with good operability can be provided.

  According to the third and fourth reference examples, the circuit board can be temporarily fixed while being inclined in a direction different from the extending direction of the ribs, so that the mold can be made inexpensive and the manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to accept both an operation of performing an input by using two or more input units among a plurality of input units and an operation of performing an input by a single input unit without performing a switching operation. .

  According to the second aspect, erroneous operation can be prevented by accepting operations of two or more input units only when two or more preset input units are operated within a predetermined time.

  According to the third aspect, since operations by two or more input units can be accepted in accordance with a command, operations by two or more input units can be performed as necessary, and it can be normally used as a general input device.

  According to claim 4, at the time of start-up, by enabling the same input operation as a normal input device, by enabling input information from two or more input units among a plurality of input units by a predetermined operation, When there is no need to perform an operation with two or more input units, an operation similar to that of a normal input device can be performed.

  According to claim 5, when the host device can receive operations by two or more input units, the operation by two or more input units becomes possible, and when the host device cannot accept operations, the normal input operation is performed. Is possible.

  According to the sixth and seventh aspects, by controlling the scan frequency in accordance with the frequency of use of the input unit, it is possible to reduce unnecessary scans to the input unit, so that the input operation can be speeded up.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input device 2 Apparatus main body 3-1 to 3-4 1st-4th operation lever 4-1-4-5 1st-5th switch 5 Cable 11 Palm rest part 12 Operation part 41 Upper case 42 Lower case 43 Holding member 44 -48 Circuit board 51 Rib 61-63 Screw 71 Cable

Claims (7)

In an input device having a plurality of input units,
Detecting means for detecting that one of the plurality of input units is operated;
When the detection means detects that one input unit is operated within a predetermined time, after the predetermined time has elapsed, the input information is output from the one input unit, and two of the plurality of input units are output. An input device comprising: control means for outputting input information from the two or more input units when the above input units are operated within a predetermined time.   The control means outputs input information from the two input units when two preset input units among the plurality of input units are operated within a predetermined time. The input device according to 1.   3. The control unit according to claim 2, wherein when the predetermined command is received from the host device, the control means outputs input information input from an operated input unit among the plurality of input units to the host device. Input device.   The control means is capable of outputting input information from a predetermined one of the plurality of input units at the time of start-up, and operating two other input units to operate two of the plurality of input units. 4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input information from two or more input units is in a state in which the input information can be output.   When the control device is supplied with a command indicating that input information from two or more input units can be received by the host device, the control unit can control the plurality of input units according to the operation of another predetermined input unit. The input device according to claim 4, wherein input information from two or more input units is output.   The control means detects the frequency of use of the plurality of input units, increases the scan frequency of an input unit with high use frequency, and decreases the scan frequency of an input unit with low use frequency. The input device according to claim 1.   The input device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit temporarily increases the scan frequency of the input unit when an input unit whose use frequency is lowered among the plurality of input units is operated. .

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