JP2821389B2 - Ballpoint pen input device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball-point type input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional ball-point input device will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first conventional example.
The ball-point pen type input device shown in FIG.
, A mark 620, and a push button switch 603 provided at one end of the button. (For example, actual opening
In the ballpoint pen type input device, the holding direction of the external case 601 must always be in a predetermined direction. The mark 620 is provided for this purpose. However, if the mounting position of the push button switch 603 is made coincident with the mark 602, the direction of the mouse with respect to the input axis of the push button switch 603 can also be determined. There is also a description of a plurality of push button switches and a pen pressure detecting means.

[0004] In this technique, an operator operates the outer case 6.
The operation is inconvenient because the holding direction of 01 must always be set to the determined direction.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a second conventional example.
The ball-point pen type input device shown in FIG.
And a holding cover 709 made of a cylindrical elastic member covering about a quarter of the distal end of the main body case 701; a plurality of strain resistance elements 10a to 10p attached to the inside of the holding cover 709; And a cushioning material 711 for absorbing the deformation of the holding cover 709 provided in the main body. A movable ball 703 is stored at the tip of the shaft 702, and information on whether or not the ball-point pen type input device is pressed down is obtained from the contact 706 (see, for example, JP-A-1-140323). In this technique, there is a restriction that the operator must hold a portion that is about １ ／ of the tip of the main body case 701.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a transparent front view and a transparent side view showing a third conventional example. FIG. 4 (a),
The ballpoint pen type input device shown in FIG. 8B has a support shaft 844 provided on the center axis of a case 807, a cylinder 842 with an optical code attached to the support shaft 844 and rotatable, and
It comprises a weight 843 attached to the inner wall of the cylinder 842, a light source 840 installed on the inner wall of the case 807 to detect the optical code of the cylinder 842, and an optical sensor 841. (See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-19963) The third technology disclosed herein can use an encoder having a small diameter, so that it can be easily inserted into the elongated case 807, and can be decoded more easily than the second technology. It has the advantage of high reliability because it is easy and non-contact, but it seems to cause a price problem.

FIGS. 5A to 5E are schematic views showing a fourth conventional example. The pen-type pointing device shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E has a contact surface 903 including a large number of contacts on an inner peripheral wall of a mouse pen 901, and a movable contact 904 that contacts the contact surface 903. I have. (For example,
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-335417) Movable contact 904
Moves downward due to gravity even when the mouse pen 901 is rotated, and contacts the contact point on the contact surface 903 as shown in FIG. 9E.
Can be seen from the vertical downward direction.

[0008]

The first prior art described above has a disadvantage that the operation is inconvenient because the operator must always adjust the gripping direction of the outer case to a predetermined direction. The second prior art has a drawback in that it has to grip about a quarter of the outer case from the tip. The third prior art has a cost problem due to its complicated internal structure. In the fourth conventional technique, there is a possibility of malfunction due to poor contact between the contact surface and the movable contact.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a ball-point pen type input device comprising a ball rolling amount detecting means, a push button switch, a pen pressure detecting means, and a pen axis direction detecting automatic correcting means. (A) a substrate on which the first and second rolling amount detectors are mounted, (B) a fixed shaft portion attached to the inner wall of the outer case, and (C) the fixed shaft portion. (D) a plurality of joints for coupling the substrate and the free rotating body, (E) embedded in a part of the outer periphery of the free rotating body, And a weight selected and installed at a position such that the first (or second) rolling amount detector is vertically downward when the user grips the external case.

[0010]

Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

The ballpoint pen type input device shown in FIG.
A substrate 12 on which the rolling amount detectors 9 and 10 are mounted; (B) a fixed shaft portion 13 attached to the inner wall of the outer case; and (C) a free shaft fitted to the shaft of the fixed shaft portion 13 so as to be freely rotatable. (E) a plurality of joints 16 for connecting the substrate 12 and the free rotating body 14, (E) embedded in a part of the outer periphery of the free rotating body 14, when the user grips the outer case 1, And a weight 15 selected and installed at a position where the rolling amount detector 10 is vertically downward.

The X-direction component of the two-ball motion is transmitted to the roller 6 → the shaft 8 → the rolling amount detector 10 and converted into an electric quantity. The component in the Y direction of the two-ball rotation is transmitted to the roller 5 → the shaft 7 → the rolling amount detector 9 and converted into an electric amount. The free rotating body 14 is lowered as shown in FIG. Therefore, the rolling amount detector 10 mounted on the substrate 12 connected to the free rotating body 14
Is also at the bottom of the outer case 1.

An elastic body is used for the plurality of joints 16,
If one of them is replaced with a pressure detector, the pen pressure can be measured.
It should be noted that the joint 16 is omitted and the free rotating body 14 and the substrate 12
May be directly connected.

[0014]

According to the ball-point pen type input device of the present invention, since the rolling amount detector is connected to the free rotating body with the weight, highly reliable automatic detection of the pen axis direction can be performed with only a simple mechanical structure. This has the effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first conventional example.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a second conventional example.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a transparent front view and a transparent side view showing a third conventional example.

FIGS. 5A to 5E are schematic diagrams showing a fourth conventional example.

[Description of Signs] 1 External case 2 Sphere 5, 6 Roller 7, 8 Axis 9, 10 Rolling amount detector 13 Fixed shaft part 14 Free rotating body 15 Weight 16 Joint

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A ballpoint pen type input device comprising a ball rolling amount detecting means, a push button switch, a pen pressure detecting means, and a pen axis direction detecting automatic correcting means, wherein the pen axis direction detecting automatic correcting means comprises: A substrate on which the first and second rolling amount detectors are mounted; (B) a fixed shaft portion attached to the inner wall of the outer case; and (C) a free shaft fitted to the fixed shaft shaft so as to be freely rotatable. A rotating body, (D) a plurality of joints for coupling the substrate and the free rotating body, (E) embedded in a part of the outer periphery of the free rotating body, if the user grips the outer case, the second A weight selected and installed at a position such that the first (or second) rolling amount detector is vertically downward. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of joints are elastic bodies.
The ballpoint pen-type input device according to the above. 3. A pen pressure detection of one of the plurality of joints
2. The ball-point pen type input device according to claim 1, wherein said input device is replaced by a means .