JP3272156B2 - Remote input device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention changes the direction of an input device relative to an apparatus main body such as a computer or a game apparatus, thereby transmitting information on the orientation of the input device from the input apparatus to the apparatus main body. The present invention relates to a remote input device that transmits information data such as XY coordinates or an inclination angle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows a remote input device capable of inputting coordinate information and the like from an input device 3 to a screen 1 provided on a device main body such as a computer or a game device. This device is the same as that described in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 5-317479. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 1 denotes a CRT screen provided on an apparatus main body such as a computer or AV equipment. A light emitting device 2 is fixed on the CRT screen 1, and the light emitting device 2 is provided with a light source 2a that emits reference light.

[0005] At the front of the input device 3, a detection unit 4 having a structure shown in FIG. 9 is provided. The detecting unit 4 includes a light receiving unit 5
Is provided, and a stop section 6 and a visible light cut filter 7 are provided in front of it. Assuming that the optical axis orthogonal to the center of the aperture of the aperture section 6 is the Z axis, this Z axis is
Along the center of the axis. As shown in FIG. 10, the light receiving section 5 includes four divided light receiving sections 5a, 5b, 5
It is composed of a pin photodiode having c and 5d. Taking XY orthogonal coordinates orthogonal to the Z axis, the set of divided light receiving units 5a and 5b and the set of 5c and 5d are divided in the Y-axis direction, and the set of 5b and 5d and the set of 5a and 5c are It is divided in the X-axis direction.

The aperture section 6 has a rectangular opening, and the infrared light emitted from the light source 2a is applied to the light receiving section 5 as rectangular spot light α. Each divided light receiving section 5
In a to 5d, a detection current based on the irradiation area of the spot light α is obtained. The detection outputs based on the irradiation area of the spot light α in each of the divided light receiving units 5a to 5d are respectively Lu, R
u, Ld, and Rd, the difference between the light output of each set of light receiving units divided in the Y-axis direction and the difference in the light receiving output of each set of divided light receiving units divided in the X-axis direction, By calculating the difference between the light receiving outputs, the inclination (θx, θy) of the Z axis extending forward of the input device 3 in the two-dimensional direction can be obtained. Based on this inclination (θx, θy),
The movement amount on the XY coordinates of the cursor mark 8 displayed near the intersection with the Z axis on the screen 1 is transmitted as XY coordinate data or information data of the inclination (θx, θy) As a result, information data on the orientation of the input device 3 with respect to the apparatus main body is given to the apparatus main body. The apparatus main body displays the cursor mark 8 based on the received data, and moves the cursor mark 8 according to the direction of the input device 3. In addition, drawing on the screen 1 can be performed.

[0005]

As described above, the reference light from the light source 2a provided on the input device 3 is received by the light receiving section 5, and the divided light output of the reference light causes the device main body (screen 1) of the input device 3 to be received. Is obtained, it is necessary to provide this information from the input device 3 to the device body. The simplest information transmission means is to connect the input device 3 and the device main body with a cord. However, in the cord connection, the distance between the input device 3 and the screen 1 is limited. The code gets in the way when you hold it and operate it. Therefore,
It is preferable that the information data on the orientation of the input device 3 and the operation data of various operation members provided on the input device 3 be wirelessly transmitted to the device main body. However, this transmission has the following problems.

(1) In this remote input device, since the direction of the Z axis extending from the input device 3 always changes, information data relating to XY coordinates and inclination (θx, θy) is always transmitted from the input device 3 to the main body of the device. It is necessary to keep transmitting the data, and it is necessary for the apparatus main body to always receive the data and determine the data. Therefore, the input device 3 must simultaneously calculate information such as coordinates based on the received light output of the reference light from the light source 2a and transmit the coordinate data and the operation data. growing. The same is true on the device body side, and the received data must be demodulated to determine the coordinate data and operation data, and at the same time, the data must be continuously transferred to a main control unit such as a main CPU that controls the entire device. The burden on the control unit increases.

(2) It is preferable to transmit data from the input device to the apparatus main body by using a light transmitting / receiving unit that emits infrared light. However, if coordinate data and operation data are transmitted from the input device 3 to the apparatus main body by infrared light, Interference with the reference light from the light source 2a makes it easy for infrared reception errors to occur on both the input device 3 side and the device main body side.

(3) In this remote input device, the input device 3
By changing the inclination (θx, θy) with respect to the screen 1 by hand, two-dimensional drawing or the like can be performed by moving the cursor mark 8 on the screen 1 or the like. However, for example, when it is desired to draw a straight line on the screen 1 in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, or a fixed angle with respect to the X-axis, if the input device 3 held by the hand shakes or shakes in space, the screen The line on 1 also bends accordingly, making it difficult to draw an accurate straight line.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and
The operation of receiving and calculating reference light in the input device and transmitting data to the main unit, receiving and determining data in the main unit, transferring data to the main control unit, and controlling the emission of reference light are also performed. It is a first object of the present invention to be able to perform the operation with minimum load on both the input device and the device main body.

It is a second object of the present invention to prevent interference between light emission transmission from the input device and reference light when data transmission using light is performed from the input device to the device main body.

[0011] Further, by using the reference light, for example, a control code or the like relating to transmission output can be transmitted from the apparatus main body to the input apparatus, thereby enabling information transmission from the apparatus main body to the input apparatus. This is the third object.

It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a device which can be provided with data relating to a linear operation when changing the direction of an operation member in a space.

[0013]

According to the remote input device of the present invention, the input device includes a divided light receiving portion for receiving a reference light emitted from a light source provided in the main body of the device, and a divided light receiving portion. A calculating unit for calculating information about the orientation with respect to the device main body from the light receiving output of the unit, an operating member for operating the device main body, and a transmitting unit for transmitting information data on the direction calculated by the calculating unit and operation data of the operating member The device main body includes a receiving unit that receives the information data and the operation data transmitted from the input device, a demodulating unit that demodulates the received data, and a light emission driving unit that causes the light source to emit light. And the device itself
Is provided with a modulation unit for including a predetermined code in the reference light.
The input device has a determining unit for determining the content of the code.
Is provided , and a time at which the data is transmitted from the input device to the device main body and a time at which the reference light is emitted from the light source of the device main body are set so as not to overlap with each other. It is.

[0014]

In the above means , the information on the orientation of the input device with respect to the device main body includes the Z axis shown in FIG.
When the cursor mark 8 is moved on the screen, coordinate information on the moving distance of the cursor mark or the like in XY coordinates parallel to the screen, or information on the inclination (θx, θy) of the Z axis is displayed. means.

Further, in the above, the code included in the reference light can be a control code for controlling the transmission intensity of the transmission unit provided in the input device. The control code is, for example, a code for controlling the light emission intensity of a light transmitted from a light transmitting unit provided in the input device.

Further, in the arithmetic section of the input device, when data is not transmitted to the apparatus main body, it is possible for the arithmetic section to calculate information on the orientation with respect to the apparatus main body.

Similarly, the apparatus main body is provided with a memory for holding data demodulated by the demodulation section, and when the reference light is emitted from the light source of the apparatus main body, the data is transmitted from the memory to the main control section of the apparatus main body. It is possible to transfer The main control unit is a main CPU or the like that controls the entire apparatus main body such as a computer and a game apparatus.

Further, the input device is provided with a key scan section for scanning whether an operation input of a plurality of operation members has been performed, and when the data is not transmitted to the apparatus main body, scanning by the key scan section is performed. Is performed, and when it is recognized that one of the operation members has been operated by the scanning, the operation data can be transmitted at the time of the next data transmission.

In the above, the input device is provided with a fixed operation member for fixing information on the orientation with respect to the apparatus main body, and when it is recognized by the key scan section that the fixed operation member has been operated, the orientation with respect to the apparatus main body is determined. May be transmitted to the apparatus body.

[0021]

In the above-mentioned means, XY relating to the orientation of the input device is provided.
The time when information data such as coordinates and tilt angles and operation data are transmitted to the apparatus main body and the time when reference light is emitted from the apparatus main body are shifted in timing so as not to overlap. Therefore, in the input device, the calculation of the information on the direction based on the reference light, the key scan operation, and the like, and the transmission of the data to the device main body can be performed at different times. Therefore, the load of each operation on the input device side can be reduced, and, for example, a common CPU can be used also as a calculation unit that calculates information about the direction and a transmission data generation unit. Similarly, on the device body side, when the data transmitted from the input device is not demodulated (or discriminated), the emission control of the reference light can be performed, the load of the control operation can be reduced, and the common operation can be reduced. CPU
Can also be used as a demodulation unit that demodulates transmission data from the input device and a light emission control unit for the reference light. Further, by storing data demodulated by the demodulation unit of the apparatus main body in a memory and transferring the data to the main control unit when demodulation is not performed, that is, when the reference light is emitted, the control time is reduced. Can be more efficient.

In the case where the transmission from the input device to the device main body is performed by the optical transmitting / receiving unit, the transmission by the light from the input device to the device main body does not interfere with the reference light, and both the input device and the device main body receive light. No mistakes are made.

Further, by including a code in the reference light emitted from the apparatus main body and enabling the input device to determine the content of the code from the reference light, various information can be provided from the apparatus main body to the input apparatus. For example, the transmission output of the input device can be controlled from the device main body.

Also, when the fixed operation member is operated, the information on the orientation of the input device sent from the input device to the device main body is fixed, so that the cursor can be moved linearly on the screen without swinging. Or straight line drawing.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The remote input device according to the present embodiment is used for providing input information from the input device 3 to the device main body having the screen 1 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a reference light modulated at a constant frequency is emitted from a light source 2 a on the side of the apparatus main body having the screen 1, and this light is received by a light receiving unit 5 provided on the input device 3.
Are detected by the four divided light receiving units 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d. In the input device 3, a detected current based on the amount of light received by each divided light receiving unit is converted into a voltage, and based on the detected voltage, {(Ru + Rd)-(Lu + Ld)} / (Ru + Lu +
Rd + Ld) and ｛(Ru + Lu) − (Rd
+ Ld) / (Ru + Lu + Rd + Ld). Thereby, Z extending vertically from the front surface of the input device 3
Axis (θx, θy) (inclination θx and θ
XY coordinates on the screen 1 (including information on the movement distance on the XY coordinates) at the position where the Z-axis hits the screen are calculated.

In the input device 3, the XY coordinate information or the angle information (θx, θy) is transmitted to the device main body as information data on the orientation of the input device 3 with respect to the device main body (screen 1). XY transmitted from input device 3
For example, the cursor mark 8 displayed on the screen 1 is moved based on the coordinate information. That is, when the direction of the Z axis (the angles θx and θy) of the input device 3 is changed with respect to the screen 1,
In response to the change of the direction, the information data is transmitted from the input device 3 to the device main body, and the data is demodulated by the device main body, so that the cursor mark 8 on the screen 1 moves. Thus, drawing on the screen 1 is possible, or the cursor mark 8 can be set at an arbitrary position displayed on the screen 1.

The input device 3 is provided with a click switch and other operation switches (operation members), and operation information (operation data) of each switch is also transmitted to the apparatus main body. Thus, for example, by turning the cursor mark 8 to an arbitrary position on the screen 1 and operating the switch of the input device 3 at that time, ON or OFF input to the switch mark displayed on the screen 1 becomes possible. . The operation member includes a power switch, and also has a fixed operation member used to move the cursor mark 8 on the screen 1 to a linear locus or draw a straight line on the screen 1.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the processing circuit 10 provided in the input device 3. The light receiving block of the processing circuit 10 includes four light receiving sections 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d.
Is provided. Adders 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d are provided in each of the four divided light receiving units.
Is connected. The adder 11a adds the four divided light receiving outputs Ru and Rd, and the adder 11b adds Lu and Ld.
Are added, Lu and Ru are added in the adder 11c, and Ld and Rd are added in the adder 11d. The photoelectric conversion light-receiving outputs added by the adders 11a to 11d are output from the current / voltage converters 12a, 12b,
It is converted into a voltage by 12c and 12d.

Each light reception output converted into a voltage is
The signal is time-divided by the time-division switch 13, amplified by the variable amplifier 14 provided in the detection unit, sampled by the sample-and-hold unit 15, and the peak value of the voltage is held. The voltage that has been time-divided and peak-held is converted into a digital value by an analog / digital converter 16 and supplied to the CPU 17. CPU 17
Gain control voltage 18 is applied to variable amplifier 14 from C
The gain of the variable amplifier 14 is controlled according to the sensitivity of the received light output to the PU 17. CPU 17 is a processing circuit 10
Function as a control unit of the CPU 17.
Functions as an arithmetic unit that calculates information on the orientation of the input device 3 with respect to the device body based on the added, time-divided, and digitally converted light-receiving output. CPU1
7 is connected to a key scan unit 20. By the key scan unit 20, a plurality of operation members 21a and 21
b,... are scanned. .. Are actually provided more than shown in the figure. These operating members include a power switch, a click switch, a numeric key switch, and the like, and further have a fixed operating member (located fixing switch). I have.

The CPU 17 also has a function as a transmission signal generator for generating a transmission signal. The operation unit and the transmission signal generation unit may be constituted by separate CPUs or the like. The transmission signal generated by the CPU 17 in a predetermined format is sent to the modulation unit 22. The carrier signal generator 23 is provided with an oscillator and a frequency divider, and the carrier signal generated by the carrier signal generator 23 is modulated by the modulator 22 with the transmission signal. Further, the light emission driving section 24 operates by the modulated wave, and the infrared light emitting diode (transmission light emitting element) 25 emits light. The modulation unit 22, the carrier signal generation unit 23, the light emission drive unit 24
A transmitting section is formed by the infrared transmitting light emitting element 25. The information data about the direction to be the XY coordinate data or θx and θy data calculated by the CPU 17 functioning as the calculation unit and the operation data of the operation member scanned by the key scan unit 20 are transmitted from the transmission unit by the infrared signal. Sent by

FIG. 2 shows a processing circuit 30 provided on a device body such as a computer or a game device. The processing circuit 30 includes, as a receiving unit, a light receiving element 31 such as a transistor or a diode, and a current / voltage conversion unit 32 that converts a photoelectric conversion output (detection current) of the light receiving element 31 into a voltage. The received signal (received light output) converted into the voltage is amplified by the variable amplifier 33, detected by the detection unit 34 to remove the carrier signal, and further shaped by the waveform shaping unit 35. The received signal after the waveform shaping is provided to the CPU 36. The CPU 36 is a control unit of the processing circuit 30 and functions as a demodulation unit or a demodulation / discrimination unit for a received signal.

A buffer memory 37 is connected to the CPU 36, and the data of the received signal demodulated and determined by the CPU 36 is temporarily stored (stored) in the buffer memory 37. The CPU 36 includes a memory controller, or a memory controller is provided outside the CPU 36. Based on the synchronization control of the memory controller, the data of the received signal stored in the buffer memory 37 is serially output from the serial interface 38. You. The serially output data is sent to a bus line 39 via a bus controller (not shown), and sent to a main control unit (main CPU) that controls the entire apparatus main body such as a computer or a game apparatus. Further, a gain control voltage 40 is provided from the CPU 36 to the variable amplifier 33, and the gain of the variable amplifier 33 is controlled by the gain control voltage 40.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the CPU 36 functions as a reference light emission control unit. The CPU 36 functioning as a reference light emission control unit supplies a light emission control signal 41 to the light emission drive unit 42, and the light emission drive unit 42 causes the light source 2a to emit light only during the time when the light emission control signal 41 is given. And a reference light is emitted. An oscillating unit 43 including an oscillator and a frequency dividing circuit is connected to the light emission driving unit 42. The light source 2a of the reference light is pulse-modulated based on the light emission carrier of a constant frequency f1 obtained from the oscillation unit 43. To emit light.

FIG. 5 shows waveforms emitted from each section. In the processing circuit 10 on the input device 3 side shown in FIG.
Based on the light receiving outputs of the divided light receiving units 5a to 5d, information relating to the direction of the input device 3 with respect to the device main body (screen 1) is calculated by the CPU 17 functioning as a calculating unit, and information data is generated. As described above, this information data is displayed on the screen 1 such as the cursor mark 8 shown in FIG.
-Data on the position on the Y coordinate and the moving distance, or data on changes in the tilt (θx, θy) and tilt amount of the Z axis. In the CPU 17, any one of the operation members 21 a, 21 b,
Are detected as being operated, operation data of the operation member is generated. The operation data is stored in a memory in the CPU 17 or an external memory corresponding to each operation member. Operation data corresponding to the member is retrieved from the memory.

CPU 1 which also functions as a transmission signal generator
In 7, a transmission signal Sa is generated based on information data such as the coordinate data and operation data. As shown in the top row of FIG. 5, the transmission signal Sa is generated by intermittently generating a fixed amount of data as “transmission signal 1”, “transmission signal 2”, “transmission signal 3”,. Is transmitted from the transmission light emitting element 25. Each transmission signal includes a leader code D1, a parity code D2, and the like. Subsequent, for example, 16-bit data D3 includes information data or operation data relating to the direction. In this embodiment, when it is recognized that the operation member is not operated by the key scan, the 16-bit data D3 is data relating to the direction of the input device 3 such as XY coordinates and inclination (θx, θy). It is the one that is mainly used. When it is detected by key scan that one of the operation members has been operated, the transmission signal of that time is detected.
The bit data D3 is mainly composed of operation data. The “transmission signal 1”, “transmission signal 2”,... Vary the entire transmission time t1 depending on the content of the data, but each transmission signal is intermittently transmitted after a certain time t2.

On the other hand, the processing circuit 3 shown in FIG.
At 0, a light emission control signal 41 is provided from the CPU 36 functioning as a light emission control unit to the light emission drive unit 42, and the light source 2a emits a pulse-modulated reference light at a constant frequency f1. In the middle part of FIG. 5, the reference light is indicated by Sb.
The reference light Sb is transmitted from the input device 3 side during a transmission suspension period (time t2) of “transmission signal 1”, “transmission signal 2”,.
Emitted during. The emission time t3 of the reference light Sb is shorter than the time t2 of the idle period. In the lower part of FIG. 5, the reception data after reception demodulation (or after reception demodulation and discrimination) extracted from the memory 37 of the processing circuit 30 on the apparatus main body side is the serial output Sc when output from the serial interface 38. Is shown. The output time of the serial output Sc is t4. This output time t4
Is within a pause period (time t2) during which no transmission signal is transmitted from the input device 3, and is the same time t as the emission of the reference light Sb.
It is within 3. From FIG. 5, the transmission time t1 of “transmission signal 1”, “transmission signal 2”,... Is the emission time t3 of the reference light Sb.
And a time zone different from the serial output time t4, and the timing does not overlap. The time period of the reference light emission time t3 and the serial output time t4 overlap.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the processing circuit 10 on the input device 3 side. Step 1 (ST1
In ST2, it is monitored whether or not the power switch of the operation members 21a, 21b,... Has been pressed. Until the power switch is pressed and the power is turned on, the CPU 17 is in a standby mode (ST3). In this standby mode, the key scan unit 20 is operated at regular intervals by the CPU 17 and is kept constant by the key scan unit 20. The operation member is operated or scanned (scanned) at the time interval of (ST4). When the CPU 17 detects that the power switch has been pressed and turned on by this scanning, the CPU 17 enters a standby mode for receiving reference light from the light source 2a of the apparatus main body (ST).
5).

When the reference light is not received in ST6, the CPU 17 reads the power-on data (power-on operation data) from the memory, and stores the power-on operation data in the transmission signal data D3 shown at the top of FIG. An included transmission signal is generated. Then, the transmission signal is emitted and transmitted from the transmission light emitting element 25 of the transmission section (ST7). In ST6, when the reference light is received by the four-divided light receiving unit 5, the light receiving output of the reference light is subjected to current / voltage conversion by the processing circuit 10 shown in FIG. , Is amplified by the variable amplifier 14, the peak value of the received light output is sampled and held, and is converted into a digital value by the analog / digital converter 16 (ST).
8).

In ST9, when it is determined that there is a time division error in the light reception output from the reference light, that is, one of the light reception outputs converted to voltage by the current / voltage converters 12a to 12d is time-divided. If it is not sent to the CPU 17, the process shifts to the reference light reception standby mode (ST5) again. When there is no time division error and all time-divided light receiving outputs are given to the CPU 17, first the CPU 1
7 enters the key scan mode (ST10). In this key scan mode, it is detected whether any of the operation members 21a, 21b,... Has been operated.

After the key scan operation (ST10) or in parallel with the key scan operation, the gain control voltage 18 is applied to the variable amplifier 14, and the amplification gain of the amplifier 14 is set (gain setting) (ST11). . At the same time CPU
In step 17, information data relating to the direction of the input device 3, such as the XY coordinate position on the screen 1 or the inclination (θx, θy) of the Z axis, is calculated from the four divided light receiving outputs (ST1).
1). Then, a transmission signal Sa shown at the top of FIG. 5 is transmitted from the transmission light emitting element 25 (ST12). here,
As a result of the key scan in ST10, if none of the operation members is pressed, the 16-bit data D3 of “transmission signal 1”, “transmission signal 2”,... It will be the subject. When it is detected by key scan that any operation member except the power switch has been operated, 16-bit data D3 of a transmission signal transmitted thereafter becomes operation data.

As shown in FIG. 5, the reference light Sb is intermittently sent from the apparatus main body with an interval, and each time, the input apparatus 3
In ST6, the reference light is received in ST6, and in the key scan mode in ST10, the reference light is received in the CPU 17.
Scan is performed each time the data is sent to And S
At T12, when the operation member is not scanned, X
The transmission signal mainly including the Y coordinate data is transmitted intermittently at the timing shown in FIG. 5, but when the operation member is scanned by the key scan, only one time is transmitted.
Alternatively, a transmission signal including operation data instead of XY coordinate data or the like is transmitted only several times.
When it is recognized by the key scan that the power switch of the operation member has been pressed and the power has been turned off (ST13), a transmission signal including power-off scan data in data D3 is transmitted to the apparatus main body. (ST14).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the processing circuit 30 on the apparatus main body side. In the initialization state of step a (STa), in STb, the CPU 36 is in the reception standby mode. When a transmission signal including operation data is transmitted from the input device 3, this is transmitted to the light receiving element 31 of the receiving unit.
And demodulated or determined by the CPU 36 (STc). When it is determined that the operation data included in the reception signal is power-on data, that is, operation data due to the power switch of the input device 3 being pressed (STd), the CPU 36 enters the reception mode (STd).
e). When the reception mode is set, the light emission drive unit 42
Is supplied with a light emission control signal 41, and the light source 2a emits reference light (STf). This reference light is emitted for the light emission time t3 shown in FIG. 5, and the light emission stops after the time t3 has elapsed (STg).

A transmission signal including coordinate data and operation data is transmitted from the processing circuit 10 of the input device 3 every time the reference light is received. On the device main body side, when the reception data of the transmission signal is incorrect in STh, or when a transmission signal containing error data is issued from the processing circuit 10 of the input device 3 and this is received, the reference light Light emission is continued, and light emission is continued until a transmission signal from the input device can be reliably received (STi). When the transmission signal is received without error, the received data is demodulated or demodulated / determined by the CPU 36 and stored in the buffer memory 37 (STm). The data stored in the buffer memory 37 is serially output to the bus line 39 simultaneously with the emission of the reference light (STj). When the data of the received signal is demodulated or demodulated and determined by the CPU 36, when it is determined that the data includes the power-off operation data, the reception data is not stored in the buffer memory 37, and the reception standby mode is performed. Shift to (STb).

Here, the timing of each processing operation will be described with reference to FIG. First, in the processing circuit 10 of the input device 3, a transmission signal containing coordinate data and the like and operation data is intermittently generated by the CPU 17 after a pause time t2, and transmitted from the transmission light emitting element 25 (ST12). . This transmission time t1 is a variable time that changes according to the data length. The analog-to-digital conversion (ST8), key scan (ST10), gain setting (ST11), and information data calculation processing (ST11) related to directions such as coordinates and inclination shown in FIG. 3 are performed during the transmission suspension period t2 of the transmission signal. It takes place in between. That is, in the CPU 17, the processing of forming the format of the transmission signal (generation of the transmission signal) and the processing of coordinate calculation, gain setting, key scan, and the like are performed in different time zones, so that the processing operations do not overlap. ing. Therefore, the load on the CPU 17 serving as a control unit can be reduced, and the same CPU 17 can function as a transmission signal generation unit, and can also function as a calculation unit for calculating coordinate information, setting a gain, and performing key scan. The CPU 17 can be used as a plurality of function processing units.

In the processing circuit 30 of the apparatus main body, at the time t1 when the transmission signal is being transmitted from the input device, the reception operation of the transmission signal and the demodulation (or demodulation / determination) of the received data by the CPU 36 are performed. This reception / demodulation operation is a time zone that does not overlap with the time t3 when the reference light is emitted. Therefore, the load on the CPU 36, which is a control unit, can be reduced, and the CPU 36 can function as a demodulation (demodulation / determination) unit for received data and also function as a light emission control unit for reference light.

Further, the time t1 when the reference light is not emitted
Then, the demodulated (demodulated / determined) received data is stored (stored) in the buffer memory 37. At the same time as the emission control of the reference light, the serial interface 38
Is serially output to the bus line 39. In this serial output processing, the load on the CPU 17 is almost negligible, and data is output by the operation of the memory controller (not shown) and the serial interface 38. By serially outputting data using the timing at which the reference light is emitted, C
The processing time of the PU 36 can be efficiently combined. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a time t1 at which the transmission signal Sa is intermittently transmitted from the transmission light emitting element 25 of the processing device 10 on the input device 3 side, and the reference light Sb is intermittently emitted from the device main body. Since the time t3 does not overlap, the light emitted from the input device 3 and the device main body is not erroneously detected.

FIG. 6A shows an emission timing waveform of the reference light Sb emitted from the light source 2a of the apparatus main body in the first invention based on the above embodiment. The first
In the embodiment of the present invention, when the light emission control signal 41 is provided from the CPU 36 to the light emission drive unit 42, the light source 2a emits light at a constant frequency f1 from the oscillation unit 43, and as shown in FIG. The reference light Sb is emitted at a constant frequency f1. FIG. 6B shows the reference light Sb emitted from the light source 2a in the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment of the second invention, a modulation section 44 is provided as shown by a broken line in FIG. A predetermined code signal is generated from the CPU 36 serving as a light emission control unit, and the modulation unit 44 frequency-modulates the signal of the frequency f1 generated by the oscillation unit 43 with the code. The light emission drive unit 42 causes the light source 2a to emit light based on the modulated wave. That is, the reference light includes the code signal. In the processing circuit 10 on the input device 3 side, the CPU 1
Reference numeral 7 denotes a determination unit for determining this code. The output from the time division switch 13 or the current before the time division
The received light output after the voltage conversion is directly supplied to the CPU 17 via the analog / digital converter 26 shown by the broken line.

In the processing circuit 30 of the apparatus main body, normally
A reference light Sb having a constant frequency as shown in FIG. 6A is emitted, but only when a code signal is transmitted from the apparatus main body to the input device 3, a modulated reference light Sb ′ as shown in FIG. Is issued. The reference light Sb 'is emitted at a fixed frequency f1 by a predetermined number of pulses P1, and after this pulse P1, a portion where the pulse is intermittent for a certain time, or becomes a high level for a certain time after the intermittent. Followed by the identification pulse P2. The CPU 17 counts the number of pulses of the reference light that has passed through the analog-to-digital converter 26, and if the pulses are intermittent after the number of the pulses P1, it is determined that the signal includes a code signal. The code pulse P3 following the identification pulse P2 is output from the CPU.
The signal is detected, demodulated, and discriminated by the demodulation unit 17 or a separately provided demodulation unit.

The code signal included in the reference light is, for example, a signal for controlling the light emission intensity of the transmission light emitting element 25 of the transmission unit on the input device 3 side, that is, the intensity of the transmission signal of the transmission signal from the input device 3. The control code is a code related to error information of data of a transmission signal transmitted from the processing circuit 10 of the input device 3 or the like. The CPU 17 determines a code included in the reference light, and executes, for example, emission intensity control of the light emitting element 25 according to the content. According to the second aspect, by including a predetermined code in the reference light, information can be provided from the apparatus main body to the input device 3 without using communication means other than the reference light.
And the device body can communicate alternately.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the input operation of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows a screen 1 of the apparatus main body. As shown in FIG. 8, a cursor mark 8 is displayed on the screen 1 substantially at the position where the Z axis extending from the input device 3 hits the screen 1. When the input device 3 is tilted in the θx and θy directions, a transmission signal including data such as XY coordinates is issued from the input device 3 as described above, and the CPU 3 of the processing circuit 30 of the device main body.
This data is demodulated in 6 and serial data of the main control unit of the apparatus main body such as a computer is provided. The main controller displays a cursor mark 8 on the screen 1 based on the serial data, and moves the cursor mark 8 according to the direction of the input device 3. This cursor mark 8
Can be drawn on the screen 1 by moving. However, when drawing by moving the cursor mark 8 linearly, or when trying to move the cursor mark 8 linearly in an operation other than drawing, the input device 3 held by the hand is shaken or shaken. The cursor mark 8 also swings on the screen 1.

In such a case, the fixed operation member among the operation members 21a, 21b,... Provided on the input device 3 is continuously operated. For example, the direction of the input device 3 is changed while a switch serving as a fixed operation member is kept pressed. Then C
In the PU 17, coordinate data in which the trajectory on the screen (on the coordinates) is fixed is generated. That is, when the CPU 17 recognizes that the fixed operation member has been operated by the key scan, the digitally converted light reception output is monitored for a short time. For example, in FIG. 10, only the light receiving output of (Ru + Rd) and the light receiving output of (Lu + Ld) change with time, but when the ratio of the light receiving output of (Lu + Ru) and the light receiving output of (Ld + Rd) does not change, the input device 3 outputs θx It is determined that only the direction has been moved. At this time, FIG.
, The data of Y = 0 continues to be included in the transmission signal Sa shown in FIG. Therefore, only the coordinate movement data in the X direction is given on the apparatus body side, and the cursor mark 8 moves linearly in the X direction on the screen 1.

Conversely, the light receiving output of (Ru + Rd) and (Lu
+ Ld) does not change with time, and (Lu)
When only the ratio between the light receiving output of (+ Ru) and the light receiving output of (Ld + Rd) continues to change, it is determined that the input device 3 is moving only in the θy direction. At this time, the data of X = 0 continues to be included in the transmission signal Sa shown in FIG. Therefore, only the coordinate movement data in the Y direction is given on the device body side,
On the screen 1, the cursor mark 8 moves linearly in the Y direction. Similarly, during a certain period of time, the ratio of the change in the received light output of (Ru + Rd) to the received light output of (Lu + Ld) is (Lu + Rd).
When the ratio of the change of the light receiving output of (Ru) to the change of the light receiving output of (Ld + Rd) is equal to that of the input device 3, the input device 3 moves 4
It is determined that it is inclined at an angle of 5 degrees. At this time, the data of X = Y is kept included in the transmission signal Sa shown in FIG. Therefore, on the apparatus main body side, the cursor mark 8 moves linearly at an angle of 45 degrees on the screen 1.

The light receiving output of (Ru + Rd) and (Lu
The cursor mark 8 is linearly moved on the screen 1 at an angle other than 45 degrees from the ratio of the change of the received light output of (Ld) and the ratio of the change of the received light output of (Lu + Ru) to the change of the received light output of (Ld + Rd). It is also possible to make it. The transmission / reception means for transmitting the transmission signal Sa shown at the top of FIG. 5 from the input device 3 to the apparatus main body may not use light but may use radio waves. Even in this case, the load on the CPU and the like can be reduced by not overlapping the timings of the processing operations as shown in FIG. However, considering the advantage that the transmission signal Sa does not interfere with the reference light Sb,
A signal in which the transmission signal Sa is transmitted by light is suitable as an embodiment.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, the transmission time of the signal from the input device to the device main body and the emission time of the reference light from the device main body are set to different timings without overlapping, thereby making the input device different. It is possible to make the processing operations of the control units of both the apparatus and the apparatus body more efficient and reduce the burden. In addition, when the transmission signal provided from the input device to the device main body uses light, the transmission signal from the input device does not interfere with the reference light from the device main body, and both the input device and the device main body do not interfere with each other. No light receiving error occurs.

Further, by including the code signal in the reference light, the input device and the device main body can communicate with each other.

Further, by providing the fixing operation member,
By moving the cursor mark or the like linearly on the screen, input errors due to camera shake of the input device do not occur, and straight line drawing can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a processing circuit on an input device side;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a processing circuit on the apparatus main body side;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of a processing circuit on the input device side;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of a processing circuit on the apparatus main body side;

FIG. 5 is a timing waveform chart showing timings of signals and the like emitted from each unit.

FIG. 6A is a waveform chart showing a reference light not including a code signal, FIG. 6B is a waveform chart showing a reference light including a code signal,

FIG. 7 is a front view showing an example of an input operation on a screen;

FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of a remote input device.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a part of the input device shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a four-divided light receiving unit of the input device;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 screen 2a light source that emits reference light 3 input device 5a to 5d quadrant light receiving unit 10 processing circuit on input device side 11a to 11d adder 12a to 12d current / voltage conversion unit 13 time division switch 14 variable amplifier 15 sample and hold unit Reference Signs List 16 analog / digital conversion unit 17 CPU as calculation unit and transmission signal generation unit 20 key scan unit 21a to 21d operation member 22 modulation unit 25 light emitting element for transmission 30 processing circuit on device body side 31 light receiving element 32 current / voltage conversion unit Reference Signs List 33 Variable amplifier 34 Detection unit 35 Waveform shaping unit 36 CPU as demodulation unit (demodulation / discrimination unit) and light emission control unit 37 Buffer memory 42 Light emission drive unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/033 310 G02B 6/00

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] An input device includes: a divided light receiving unit for receiving a reference light emitted from a light source provided in a device main body; and information on a direction with respect to the device main body from a light receiving output of each of the divided light receiving units. A calculation unit for calculating, an operation member for operating the device main body, and a transmission unit for transmitting information data on the orientation calculated by the calculation unit and operation data of the operation member are provided. A receiving unit that receives the information data and the operation data transmitted from the device, and a demodulating unit that demodulates the received data,
A light emission drive unit that emits light from the light source is provided; and a modulation unit that includes a predetermined code in the reference light is provided in the device main body, and a determination unit that determines the content of the code is provided in the input device. A time at which the data is transmitted from the input device to the device main body and a time at which the reference light is emitted from the light source of the device main body are set at timings that do not overlap with each other. . 2. A code included in the reference beam, the remote input device according to claim 1, wherein a control code for controlling the transmit power of the transmitter, which is provided to the input device. 3. The operation of the input device, when not transmitting data to the apparatus main body, a remote input device according to claim 1, wherein the information regarding the orientation with respect to the apparatus main body is calculated. 4. A memory for holding data demodulated by the demodulation unit is provided in the apparatus main body, and when the reference light is emitted from the light source of the apparatus main body, the memory transmits the data to the main control unit of the apparatus main body. the remote input device according to claim 1, wherein the data is transferred. 5. The input device includes a key scan unit that scans whether an operation input of a plurality of operation members has been performed,
When data is not transmitted to the apparatus main body, scanning is performed by the key scanning unit. When it is recognized that one of the operation members has been operated by this scanning, the operation data is transmitted when the next data transmission is performed. the remote input device according to claim 1, wherein but sent. 6. The input device is provided with a fixed operation member for fixing information on an orientation with respect to the apparatus main body, and when it is recognized that the fixed operation member is operated by scanning of the key scan unit, the direction of the orientation with respect to the apparatus main body is determined. 6. The remote input device according to claim 5, wherein the information data in which the information is fixed is transmitted to the device body.