JP2014044715A - Pointing device using sliding mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointing device allowing a quick accurate operation and easy operation while holding a pointing device body or a device including the pointing device body by hand.SOLUTION: A pointing device using sliding mechanisms 3, 4, and 5, allows a user to use the device by holding periphery thereof. The device includes one or more sliding mechanisms 3, 4, and 5 respectively for outputting a signal to operate a pointer on a computer screen at least in a horizontal direction and a longitudinal direction, in a position where a finger reaches while holding the periphery.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pointing device of a computer, and more particularly to a pointing device using a slide mechanism such as a potentiometer.

Conventionally, various pointing devices have been proposed. Pointing devices are used for operating arrows and cross cursors displayed on a computer screen vertically and horizontally, and for game operations.
The most typical input method is a mouse and a touch pad. In many cases, a mouse is used in a desktop computer and a touch pad is used in combination in a laptop computer.

In addition, a cross key and an analog stick that move the pointer up and down, left and right, and a track ball that detects the rotation direction of the ball and moves the pointer in the rotation direction are used.
However, in the case of a cross key, for example, when selecting a desired item on the screen, the up and down buttons and the left and right buttons must be repeatedly pressed or long-pressed to move the pointer, which is accurate and fast like a mouse. Cannot operate. Other devices have similar problems.

  In recent years, not only computers but also TVs with large screens (especially smart TVs) have been increasingly operated with pointing devices, and the conventional pointing devices as described above have not been able to be operated remotely. Since the mouse can only be used on a flat surface, it is not suitable for remote control pointing.

  As a technique different from these, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a free direction input area, a horizontal direction input area, and a vertical direction input area are provided on the input surface of a touch panel. When the user performs a slide operation starting from a point in the free direction input area, the movement control of the virtual camera is performed based on the change amount of the touch position in the X axis direction and the change amount of the touch position in the Y axis direction. When the user performs a slide operation starting from a point in the horizontal input area, the virtual camera movement is controlled based only on the amount of change in the touch position in the X-axis direction. When a slide operation is performed starting from this point, movement control of the virtual camera is performed based only on the amount of change in the touch position in the Y-axis direction.

JP 2011-138355 A

  The present invention has been created in view of the above-described prior art, and an object of the present invention is to realize an accurate and quick operation, and a pointing device that can be easily operated while holding the pointing device main body or an apparatus having the same by hand. The purpose is to provide.

The present invention uses the following means in order to solve the above problems.
In other words, in a pointing device using a slide mechanism, in which the user grasps and uses the periphery of the device, the computer reaches at least a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction at a position where a finger can reach while grasping the periphery of the device. There is provided a pointing device using a slide mechanism, each of which includes one or more slide mechanisms that output a signal for operating a pointer on the screen.

  In the above slide mechanism, absolute position information in the slide range may be output so that the pointer on the computer screen can be moved to a corresponding position according to the slide position.

  In the slide mechanism, acceleration information at the time of sliding may be output, and a moving speed or a moving amount of a pointer on the computer screen may be changed according to the acceleration.

  In the above pointing device, a monitor screen may be provided at a substantially center, and the slide mechanism may be provided at the periphery of the monitor screen.

You may comprise said slide mechanism with a slide volume.
Or you may comprise with a rotary switch.
Or you may comprise with a joystick.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pointing device that can be operated accurately and quickly. Further, by providing a slide mechanism at a position where the user can reach the finger while grasping the peripheral edge of the device, the operation becomes easy even while holding the pointing device main body or an apparatus having the same by hand.

1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the 6th Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the Example shown below can be changed suitably in the range of a claim statement.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the present invention, the slide meters (3), (4), and (5) are arranged on the surface of the housing in a U-shape on the vertical axis (3) (4) and the horizontal axis (5). Have a configuration.
For right-handed users, operate the slide meter (5) on the horizontal axis with the thumb of the left hand while holding the housing with both hands so that the thumb is up, and slide the vertical axis on the right side with the thumb of the right hand Operate meter (4). Conversely, a left-handed user mainly operates the slide meter (3) on the vertical axis with the thumb of the left hand. Of course, you may arrange | position so that the slide meter of a vertical axis | shaft and a horizontal axis may be operated alternately with one hand.

  The slide mechanism used in the present invention is known, and for example, a linear potentiometer can be used. In addition, a mechanism that uses a switch biased by an elastic force toward the center and naturally returns to the center when the hand is released may be used.

  If the left side of the upper side of the housing is provided with an L button (1) and an R button (2) on the right side, the right button is used to determine by pressing the R button (2) with the index finger. Good input is possible.

  When this pointing device is specialized for input, the center part (6) can be equipped with a physical key such as a touchpad or QWERTY keyboard, and if it also serves as an output device, a touch panel monitor Can be incorporated.

  By using the slide mechanism as in the present invention, the user can visually and tactilely feel the vertical axis and horizontal axis on the remote control, so that the relationship (distance, direction) between the current location and the destination location can be controlled by the remote control. This makes it easier to grasp on the case and makes it easier to predict where the point that you want to reach on the screen will be on the remote control case (on the slider).

Further, since the shaft is extended, according to the input method of the present invention, it is possible to input “speed” (speed = distance ÷ time). A conventional device such as a cross key does not have a “distance” and therefore cannot input “speed”.
Further, “acceleration” can be input. That is, the slide meter is provided with an acceleration sensor, and the movement of the pointer can be changed depending on whether it is moved vigorously or gently. In this configuration, it is preferable to use a slide mechanism that naturally returns to the center as described above.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, apart from a method such as a cross key in which the vertical axis and the horizontal axis are input at a ratio of 1: 1, it can be input at an arbitrary ratio (distance and speed) in the vertical and horizontal directions. Quick input to is possible. This configuration is particularly suitable when the present invention is applied to a pointing device such as a game machine.

The present invention is expected to have various uses, and the size and design of the housing change accordingly. Hereinafter, several examples will be shown in order.
Applications of the present invention can be broadly classified into two types: those specialized for remote control (input devices) and devices that serve both as inputs and outputs with a touch-operated monitor embedded in the center. Regarding the latter, in the case of a portable device (smart phone, portable game machine, etc.) having a screen size of about 3 inches to 6 inches, the design shown in FIGS.

  On the other hand, in the case of a portable device such as a tablet terminal having a screen size of about 6 inches to 12 inches, the configuration shown in FIG. 1 not only allows the finger to reach the entire area of the meter but also makes it difficult to press the R button with the right index finger. An asymmetric design as shown in FIG. That is, the user grasps the upper right portion and the lower left portion of the casing with both hands, while the right hand operates the vertical slide meter (7) and the R button (9) while the left hand moves the horizontal slide meter (8 ). The central monitor screen (10) is a display screen of the tablet terminal, and touch panel input is also possible as is well known.

  By the way, since the tablet terminal is equipped with an electrostatic touch panel, hold the frame part surrounding the monitor with both thumbs and hold the back of the case with four fingers other than the thumbs. It is supposed to be operated by touching the monitor. However, since the “casing width” exceeds the average adult “thumb length of both hands”, the normal user cannot touch the center of the screen. In such a case, the user usually performs a touch operation with the other hand while holding the casing with one hand. Unfortunately, it is impossible to support the chassis from the back with the remaining four fingers while holding the edge of the chassis surface with the thumb of one hand, and in addition, when touching the panel with the other hand Since the casing is pushed down, the burden is further increased.

Accordingly, the tablet terminal is inconsistent and interferes with the operation of the hold, and cannot be used practically without assistance for the hold. Therefore, the use is limited to the use while sitting down, and it is not suitable for use when going out (mobile or carrying), which should be the original purpose.
Therefore, by providing the pointing device as in the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the contradiction that is a problem of the conventional tablet terminal, that the touch operation with the finger cannot be performed while holding the housing with both hands. it can.

  The slide mechanism can be urged toward the center as described above, and can be urged with a spring or the like in a specific direction. For example, it can be applied to a game or the like by converting the tension and compression force of a spring into a linear signal and outputting it.

The configuration shown in FIG. 4 or 5 can be used as a configuration specialized for the game. In the case of game machines, complicated, accurate, and diverse operations are required. Moreover, it is preferable to provide a monitor as large as possible.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the horizontal axis meters (13) and (14) of the slide mechanism similar to the above embodiment are divided into two parts at the bottom of the monitor (15). Vertical axis meters (11) and (12) are also provided on both sides of the monitor (15).
As a result, the width can be increased and the monitor size can be increased, which is suitable as a pointing device for a game machine.
A pointing stick (16) may further be provided between the horizontal axis meters (13) and (14).

When the monitor is configured with a larger monitor (21) such as 8 to 9 inches, it is preferable that the housing is designed in a convex shape as shown in FIG. 5 and the positions of the LR buttons (24) and (25) are lowered. It is. In this case, since the thumb cannot reach the slide pad, slide meters (17), (18), (19), and (20) are provided on each of the left and right sides.
Furthermore, an arbitrary function button (which may also be used as an LR button) may be provided between the two horizontal axis slide meters (19) and (20).

As the slide mechanism of the present invention, a jog dial or a mouse wheel mechanism may be used instead of the linear potentiometer. That is, the slide mechanism may be rotated as long as the structure performs the same operation as the slide during operation. This configuration is highly versatile and highly feasible, and is excellent in that it draws an endless track. Further, for the jog dial, the spring tension may be converted into a signal and output.

  FIG. 6 shows an embodiment using a wheel mechanism. As shown in the drawing, rotatable dial portions (32), (33), and (34) are provided on the left and right and lower center of the central monitor (31), respectively. In addition, LR buttons (35) and (36) similar to those described above are provided on the upper left and right sides of the casing.

  As shown in the drawing, it is preferable that the left and right dial portions (32) and (33) rotate in the vertical direction of the housing, and the lower central dial portion (34) rotates in the left and right direction of the housing. As a result, the scroll direction in the display of the monitor (31) matches the rotation direction of the dial unit, which contributes to intuitive operation.

  The width of the dial portion in the axial direction is arbitrary. For example, the left and right dial portions (32) and (33) are relatively small in accordance with the width direction of the thumb, and the lower central dial portion (34) is It can also be made relatively large in the length direction. Thereby, the dial part which is easy to turn according to the size of the thumb can be configured.

  The dial portions (32), (33), and (34) may be provided with a push button mechanism together with the wheel mechanism. That is, instead of the LR buttons (35) and (36) or separately from the LR buttons (35) and (36), the dial unit may be pressed to act as a push button. Such a mechanism can be realized with a structure similar to that used in known mice.

The rotation range may be regulated within a predetermined range, or a mechanism that rotates indefinitely.
Also, in the configuration using the wheel mechanism, it may be urged by an elastic force toward the center of the rotation range, and may be naturally returned to the center when the hand is released.

  As a mechanism for performing the above input / output, sensors for detecting a moving direction, a moving amount, an angle, and the like of a potentiometer and an encoder can be used. Any of the potentiometer and the encoder may be a rotary type, a slide type, or the like. At this time, a mechanical mechanism that converts a circular motion into a linear motion, or conversely converts a linear motion into a circular motion, may be provided.

FIG. 7 shows an example using a lever input mechanism. Such an input mechanism is used as a joystick in game machines and industrial equipment and is well known. That is, it can swing around a shaft support portion (not shown) at the lower end portion, and naturally returns to the neutral point when the hand is released.
In this embodiment, joysticks (42), (43) and (44) are provided on the left and right sides and the lower center of the central monitor (41) as shown in the figure.

  As for the swinging direction of the joystick, it is preferable that the left and right joysticks (42) and (43) rotate in the vertical direction of the casing, and the lower center joystick (44) rotates in the horizontal direction of the casing. Thereby, the scroll direction in the display of the monitor (41) and the rotation direction of the dial portion coincide with each other, which contributes to an intuitive operation.

1 R button 2 L button 3 Vertical slide meter 4 Vertical slide meter 5 Horizontal slide meter 6 Center

Claims (7)

A pointing device using a slide mechanism, in which the user grips and uses the periphery of the device,
One or more slide mechanisms each outputting a signal for operating a pointer on a computer screen at least in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction at a position where a finger can reach while grasping the peripheral edge are provided. Pointing device using a sliding mechanism. The pointing device using the slide mechanism according to claim 1, wherein in the slide mechanism, absolute position information in a slide range is output, and a pointer on the screen of the computer can be moved to a corresponding position according to the slide position. . The pointing using the slide mechanism according to claim 1, wherein in the slide mechanism, acceleration information at the time of sliding is output, and a moving speed or a moving amount of the pointer on the screen of the computer changes according to the acceleration. device. The pointing device using the slide mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pointing device includes a monitor screen at a substantially central position, and the slide mechanism is provided at a peripheral edge of the monitor screen. The pointing device using the slide mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the slide mechanism includes a slide volume. The pointing device using the slide mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the slide mechanism is configured by a rotary switch. The pointing device using the slide mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the slide mechanism is configured by a joystick.

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