JP2607774Y2 - Track ball - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a track ball, and more particularly, to detecting a third axis through a dial ring rotatably provided at an outer peripheral position of the ball.
The present invention relates to a novel improvement for detecting a total of three axes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a track ball of this type, a configuration shown in FIG. 6 has been generally employed. That is, in FIG. 6, what is indicated by reference numeral 1 is a casing, in which a ball 2 is rotatably provided, and a part of the ball 2 is a ring-shaped ball provided in an opening 1a of the casing 1. It is exposed from the inside of the cover 3.

[0003] In the casing 1, rotation detectors 4, 5 comprising a pair of encoders arranged at right angles to each other are provided.
The rollers 4a and 5a provided on the rotation detectors 4 and 5 are in sliding contact with the outer periphery 2a of the ball 2. Therefore, by rotating the ball 2, the rotation detectors 4 and 5 use the rollers 4 a and 5 a to rotate the ball 2.
Axial detection can be performed.

[0004]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Since the conventional trackball is configured as described above, there are the following problems. That is, two pairs of rotation detectors
Since the detection is performed only in the axial direction, the demand for detecting three axes cannot be satisfied.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and in particular, by detecting the third axis through a dial ring rotatably provided at the outer peripheral position of the ball, An object of the present invention is to provide a trackball capable of detecting a total of three axes.

[0006]

A track ball according to the present invention comprises a ball rotatably provided in a casing, and a pair of rotating members which are provided in the casing, rotate while slidingly contacting the ball, and are arranged orthogonally. A shaft, a rotation detector connected to each of the rotation shafts, a dial ring rotatably provided on the casing and disposed at an outer peripheral position of the ball, and a pattern formed at a lower end of the dial ring. A reflection-type photointerrupter provided in the casing, wherein the rotation of the dial ring is detected through the pattern and the photointerrupter to perform three-axis detection. A common bearing portion for bearing one end of the shaft in common, and a bottom of the casing provided inside the dial ring. A transparent ring-shaped ball cover fixed to a pillar that is integrally raised from above and holding the ball, an upper portion of the casing located outside the dial ring, and a lower surface of the ring-shaped ball cover. The dial ring has a circular arc surface (10A) that is bent inward on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is provided between the circular ball cover and the upper portion. While being rotatably held, the upper portion is located below the circular arc surface, the circular arc surface is exposed to the outside, and the illumination body overlaps with the lower end in the horizontal direction of the casing. It is.

[0007]

In the track ball according to the present invention, by rotating the ball, a pair of rotation detectors slidingly contacting the ball detect in two axial directions, and furthermore, by rotating the dial ring right and left, The rotation of this dial ring is controlled by a reflective photointerrupter.
Axis detection is performed, and rotation detection for a total of three axes can be performed. Therefore, input signals to a computer or the like can be not only conventional two-axis signals but also three-axis signals in total.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or equivalent parts as those in the conventional example will be described using the same reference numerals.
1 to 5 show a trackball according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a rear view, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the inside, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. FIG.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the reference numeral 1 designates a casing having a box shape in its entirety. An annular ball cover 3 is formed inside an upper portion 1b of the casing 1, Outside the ring-shaped ball cover 3, a ring-shaped dial ring 10 is rotatably provided. The ring-shaped ball cover 3 is fixed on a column 50 that is integrally raised from the bottom 1c of the casing 1.

A lower end 10 of the dial ring 10 is provided in a ring-shaped opening 11 formed in an upper portion 1b of the casing 1.
a is guided rotatably, and a light reflection type pattern 10aA is formed on the lower end surface of the lower end 10a.
Therefore, the dial ring 10 is rotatably held between the annular ball cover 3 and the upper portion 1b. A circular arc surface 10A that is bent inward is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the dial ring 10 so as to be exposed to the outside, and the upper portion 1b is located below the circular arc surface 10A. .

A ball 2 is rotatably provided in an opening 1a formed by the ring-shaped ball cover 3, and a part of the outer periphery 2a of the ball 2 projects upward from the opening 1a to be operably exposed. ing.

At the bottom 1c of the casing 1, there are provided a first rotation detector 4 and a second rotation detector 5 comprising encoders arranged orthogonally to each other, and the rotation shafts of these rotation detectors 4, 5 are provided. 4a, 5a are rotatably held by a common bearing portion 12 and the outer periphery 2a of the ball 2.
Is in sliding contact with

On a printed circuit board 13 formed on the bottom 1c of the casing 1, there is provided a well-known reflective photo-interrupter 14 comprising a light-emitting section and a light-receiving section. 10aA
Is provided directly below.

In the lower portion 3a of the annular ball cover 3,
An illuminating body 15 made of an LED or the like is provided, and the annular ball cover 3 is transparent.
Light from the ball-shaped ball cover 3
, And the ball 2 is configured to be used even in a dark place. Therefore, the lower surface 3b of the ring-shaped ball cover 3 is directly joined to the upper surface of the lighting body 15, as shown in FIG. Further, the illumination body 15 is overlapped with the lower end 10 a in the horizontal direction of the casing 1.

Next, the operation will be described. First, by rotating the ball 2, the rotating disks 4b and 5b of the respective rotation detectors 4 and 5 are rotated via the respective rotation shafts 4a and 5a, and the rotation detectors 4 and 5 cause the rotation in the X and Y directions. Data is obtained.

In the state described above, the dial ring 10
Is rotated, the rotation of the pattern on the lower end face 10aA is read by the photointerrupter 14, and 3
By detecting the axis, data for a total of three axes can be obtained.

[0017]

[Effects of the Invention] Since the trackball according to the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained. That is, in addition to the two-axis detection by the pair of rotation detectors in the casing, the detection of the third axis is performed by the dial ring provided at the outer peripheral position of the ball, and the detection by a total of three axes, which has not been achieved in the past, can be realized. Yes, for example,
It is most suitable as an input device for various medical equipment such as ultrasonic diagnostic equipment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a trackball according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the inside of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a main part.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Casing 1b Upper part 2 Ball 4, 5 Rotation detector 4a, 5a Rotation axis 10 Dial ring 10a Lower end 10aA Pattern 10A Circular arc surface 11 Ring opening 14 Photointerrupter 15 Illumination body

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshinori Goto 1385-1 Shimoishigami, Otawara-shi, Tochigi Pref. Toshiba Nasu Plant (56) References JP-A-5-233146 (JP, A) JP-A-2 JP-A-4-151716 (JP, A) JP-A-4-28341 (JP, U) JP-A-3-119234 (JP, U) JP-A-62-181243 (JP, U) )

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A ball (2) rotatably provided in a casing (1), and a pair of balls (2) provided in the casing (1), which are slidably contacted with the ball (2) and rotate and are arranged orthogonally. Rotating shafts (4a, 5a), rotation detectors (4, 5) connected to the rotating shafts (4a, 5a), and the ball (2) provided rotatably on the casing (1). A dial ring (10) disposed at an outer peripheral position, and a lower end (10a) of the dial ring (10);
Pattern (10aA), and a reflective photointerrupter (14) provided in the casing (1), and the rotation of the dial ring (10) is controlled by the pattern (10aA) and the photointerrupter (14). ), A common bearing portion (12) for commonly bearing one end of each of the rotary shafts (4a, 5a), and the dial ring. A transparent ring-shaped ball provided on the inside of (10) and fixed on a column (50) integrally raised from the bottom (1c) of the casing (1) and holding the ball (2). A cover (3) and an upper part of the casing (1) located outside the dial ring (10)
(1b), and an illuminator (15) provided directly on the lower surface (3b) of the annular ball cover (3), and the dial ring (10) is bent inward on the outer peripheral surface thereof. A circular arc surface (10A), and is rotatably held between the circular ball cover (3) and the upper portion (1b), and the upper portion (1b) has the circular arc surface (10A). 10A), the annular arc surface (10A) is exposed to the outside, and the illuminating body (15) overlaps the lower end (10a) in the horizontal direction of the casing (1). A trackball, characterized in that: