JP3375012B2 - Pointing device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device of a computer, and more particularly, to an instruction of a position on a computer screen and an industrial robot through a control device. The present invention relates to a pointing device that indicates a position on a plane in operation. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, pointing devices such as a mouse, a light pen, and a trackball have been known as input devices for computers. When operating these pointing devices, an operator holds the device with one hand and moves the device in the direction in which the pointer is to be moved, or performs an operation such as rotating a ball on the device in the moving direction. The upper pointer is moved and the switch is pressed to determine the position. FIGS. 5 and 6 are views showing a mouse as a conventional typical pointing device. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the mouse, and FIG. 6 is a side view of the mouse. In FIGS. 5 and 6, reference numeral 31 denotes a base, reference numeral 32 denotes a ball for moving a pointer, reference numeral 33 denotes a connection code for connecting to a computer main body, reference numeral 34 denotes a position determination button (1), and reference numeral 35 denotes a position determination button. (2). The mouse position determination button (1) 34
Depending on the software used, it is used as a double-click button. When operating the mouse shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the operator holds the apparatus with one hand, moves the apparatus in the direction in which the pointer is to be moved, moves the pointer on a plane, and presses a switch to determine the position. are doing. However, in the above-mentioned conventional pointing device, the operator must hold the device with one hand and move the device, or give a rotating motion to the ball. People with disabilities are not able to use it. [0009] In addition, many software used in computers require an operation called double-click to quickly press a switch on a pointing device twice. However, if the operator is physically handicapped, this operation cannot be performed well, and ordinary people may not be able to perform this operation well, which hinders the promotion of computer use. This is one of the factors. [0011] Furthermore, many persons with physical disabilities use a computer by operating a keyboard using a stick or the like eaten with their mouth. Such a person with a disability requires a pointing device. Can not be used. Therefore, in software based on a pointing device, it is necessary to perform a keyboard operation of simultaneously pressing a plurality of keys instead of an input operation of the pointing device, which promotes the use of a computer for a physically handicapped person. This is one of the hindering factors. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to improve the operability of a pointing device with respect to a healthy person and to improve the physical abilities of a physically disabled person. It is an object of the present invention to provide a technology that can be easily operated even by a disabled person or an elderly person. The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings. Means for Solving the Problems Of the inventions disclosed in the present application, typical ones will be briefly described as follows.
It is as follows. The present invention relates to a pointing device for pointing and selecting one point on a plane such as a display screen by moving a pointer, and for pointing one point on a plane such as a display screen by moving the pointer. A pointing device that is supported on the base so that it can be tilted in any direction, and has an annular shape on the outer periphery of the upper surface to support the operation by the instrument .
And the guide groove is disk-shaped operation section provided, the position specifying means for moving the point by detecting the tilt amount of movement of the operating portion, the guide hole to support the operation by the instrument grant
Is, the operation for determining the selection of the position of the pointer
The first position determining means independent of the unit and the operation by the instrument
Guide holes are provided to assist, with one press operation
A second position determination unit independent of the operation unit for determining selection of a position of a pointer that outputs a double-click signal; and a second position determination unit provided in the operation unit and having the same function as the first position determination unit. 3 position determining means ,
Note that the second position determination means can be kept
The signal is configured to generate only one click signal . According to the above-mentioned means, in the pointing device, the amount of movement is detected by tilting the disk-shaped operation portion having the groove-shaped guide for supporting the operation with the rod or the like. Further, a position determining means for guiding a double click with a guide hole for assisting the operation by the instrument and a position determining means with a guide hole for assisting the operation by the instrument are provided independently of the operation unit. Provided. As a result, it is possible to improve the operability for a healthy person, and it is possible to easily operate even a physically handicapped person or an elderly person who is disabled. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings for explaining the embodiments, parts having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their repeated description will be omitted. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the pointing device of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram of the pointing device of the embodiment. FIG. 1 and 2, 1 is a base, 2 is a disk, 3 is a position determination button (1), 4 is a position determination button (2), 5 is a position determination button (3), 6 Is a position determination button (4), 7 is a position determination button (5), 8 is a connection cord for connecting to a computer main body, 9 is a guide groove, 10 is a guide hole, 11 is a spring, and 12 is a circle. A plate support frame, 13 is a pressure detector, and 14 is a control device. The pointing device of this embodiment is used in place of a mouse, which is a typical pointing device of the related art. Next, the pointing device of this embodiment will be described in comparison with a conventional mouse. A position determination button (1) 3 of the present embodiment,
The position determination button (4) 6 with a guide hole corresponds to the position determination button 34 for determining the position of the conventional mouse. In the software of the computer, the conventional position determination button 34 for mouse position determination is used as a double-click position determination button. In this embodiment, the position determination button (1) 3 is used. Alternatively, a position determination button (3) with a guide hole for outputting the same signal as a double-click operation by a single press instead of double-clicking the position determination button (4) 6 is provided. When the double-click position determination button (3) 5 is pressed, the control device 14 generates a signal corresponding to the double-click operation and transmits the signal to the computer main body. In this case, the control device 14 generates a double-click signal only once, even if the position determination button (3) 5 is once pressed and kept pressed. A position determination button (2) 4 of this embodiment;
The position determination button (5) 7 having a guide hole corresponds to the position determination button 35 for determining the position of the conventional mouse. In this embodiment, since the conventional mouse double-clicks only on the left position determination button (1) 34, the normal position determination button (3) 5 is replaced with the position determination button (3). 1) 3 is provided, but if necessary, a double-click switch corresponding to the position determination button (2) 4 can be added. The disk 2 of this embodiment corresponds to a ball 32 for moving a conventional mouse pointer. In the pointing device of this embodiment,
The position is designated by tilting the disc 2 about the support frame 12, and the direction of the tilt at this time becomes the moving direction of the pointer, and the amount of tilt becomes the moving speed of the pointer, which is transmitted to the computer as a signal. That is, in the pointing device of this embodiment, one or two of the pressure detectors 13 arranged vertically and horizontally around the support frame 12 simultaneously detect the inclination of the disk 2 by the pressure. And the movement amount is detected by the control device 1
Calculated in step 4, converted into the same signal as when a conventional mouse is operated, and transmitted to the computer. In this case, the moving direction can be obtained from the ratio of the value of the pressure detector 13 that has detected the pressure, and the moving speed can be obtained from the value of the detected pressure. For example, when the value of the upper pressure detector 13 is 5 and the value of the left pressure detector 13 is 5, a signal for moving the pointer by a movement amount 5 at an angle of 45 degrees to the upper left direction is transmitted. Send to computer. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a method of generating a signal transmitted from the control device 14 to the computer main body in the pointing device of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the pressure detector 13 is a pressure detector that outputs a pulse signal whose frequency changes according to the strength of the applied pressure. That is, when the pressure detected by the pressure detector 13 is large, it is converted into a pulse signal having a large number of pulses per unit time, and when the detected pressure is small, it is converted into a pulse signal having a small number of pulses per unit time. I do. Then, the encoding device 15 includes the pressure detector 1
The pulse signal from 3 is, for example, 10H (H is a hexadecimal number) for the pulse signal of the left pressure detector 13, 20H for the pulse signal of the right pressure detector 13, and 20H for the upper pressure detector 13. 30H for pulse signal, lower pressure detector 1
40 for a pulse signal of 3, otherwise 00
It is converted into H-byte serial data and transmitted to the computer main body. Therefore, when the pressure detected by the pressure detector 13 is large, for example, “2” per unit time
0, 20, 20, 20, 20 ”and when the pressure is small, for example,“ 20, 0,
The data “0, 20, 00, 20” is transmitted to the computer main body. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the amount of movement is represented by the number of pulses, and a pulse is output for each movement. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of a method of generating a signal transmitted from the control device 14 to the computer main body in the pointing device of the present embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the pressure detector 13 is a pressure detector in which the resistance value changes according to the applied pressure, and the output voltage changes based on the change in the resistance value. Then, this output voltage is supplied to the A / D converter 1
At step 6, it is converted into digital data. The digital data is converted into one-byte serial data by the encoding device 15 as described with reference to FIG. 3 and transmitted to the computer. In the control device 14, the pressure detector 13
Instead of generating a computer signal directly from the value of, the signal to the operation of the disk 2 is generated in accordance with the human being, thereby making it easier to use. In the pointing device of this embodiment, the operation necessary for the operator to move the position of the pointer is as follows:
Simply placing a palm, an elbow, or the like on the disk 2 and moving the pointer in the direction in which the pointer is to be moved to incline the disk will reduce the burden on the operator. The guide groove 9 provided on the upper surface of the disk 2 allows the device to be operated by a device such as a rod.
To prevent slipping on the surface. The position after the pointer is moved can be selected by using the position determination button (1) normally on the disc 2 for a healthy person.
3. It can be performed by pressing the position determination button (2) 4, and this operation can be performed with a feeling close to that of a conventional mouse. The position determination button (1) 3 and the position determination button (2) on the disk 2 of the pointing device of this embodiment.
4 or conventional mouse position determination button (1)
34, when the device for designating the position and the position determination button for determining the position are integrated as in the case of the position determination button (2) 35, the operation is performed by pressing the position determination button. The position may shift. In particular, in the case of a handicapped person who operates a device such as a stick with his mouth in his mouth, the position determination button (1) 3 and the position determination button (2) on the disk 2 of the pointing device of the present embodiment. It is very difficult to operate 4. However, in the pointing device of the present embodiment, the position determination button (4) independent of the disk 2
6. By using the position determination button (5) 7,
The position of the pointer does not shift when the position is selected. Also, by using the position determination button (3) 5 dedicated to double-clicking, the same result as that of a person who has difficulty in performing double-clicking or a person who is not good at performing double-clicking can be obtained. It is possible to obtain. Even if the double-click position determination button (3) 5 is kept pressed, a double-click signal is generated only once, ie, until the position determination button (3) 5 is released once. , Button for position determination (3)
In the case of a physically handicapped person who cannot quickly perform an operation from pressing down to releasing, it is possible to prevent a malfunction in which a double-click signal is continuously output. As described above, the present invention has been specifically described based on the embodiments. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. The effects obtained by typical aspects of the invention disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows. (1) According to the pointing device of the present invention, the operation necessary for the operator to move the position of the pointer is as follows. , And the operation unit is merely tilted, so that the burden on the operator can be reduced. (2) According to the pointing device of the present invention, since the guide groove is provided on the upper surface of the operation unit, it is possible to prevent the device from slipping on the surface of the operation unit when operating with a device such as a stick. This can be prevented. (3) According to the pointing device of the present invention, since the position determining means independent of the operation section is provided, it is possible to prevent the position of the pointer from being shifted when the position is selected. (4) According to the pointing device of the present invention, there is provided a dedicated position determining means independent of the operation section, which outputs the same signal as a signal obtained when the operation is performed twice in a short time by performing the operation once. Thus, a person who has difficulty in performing the double-click operation or a person who is not good at performing the double-click operation can easily perform the double-click operation. (5) According to the pointing device of the present invention, even if the dedicated position determination means for outputting the same signal as the signal obtained by operating once by operating once is kept pressed, the double-click is performed. Signal is generated only once, so if the physically handicapped person cannot quickly perform the operations from pressing the release button to releasing it, the double-click signal will continue. It is possible to prevent an erroneous operation that is output by the operation. (6) According to the pointing device of the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability for a healthy person and to easily operate even a physically handicapped or an elderly person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a plane of a pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a side surface of the pointing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of generating a signal transmitted from the control device to the computer main body in the pointing device of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another example of a method of generating a signal transmitted from the control device to the computer main body in the pointing device of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a plane of a mouse, which is a conventional typical pointing device. FIG. 6 is a side view showing a side surface of a mouse which is a conventional typical pointing device. [Description of Signs] 1, 31: base, 2: disk, 3, 34: position determination button (1), 4, 35: position determination button (2), 5: position determination button (3), 6 ... Positioning button (4),
7 ... Positioning button (5), 8, 33 ... Connection cord for connecting to computer body, 9 ... Guide for guide, 1
0: Guide hole, 11: Spring, 12: Disk support frame, 13: Pressure detector, 14: Control device, 15: Encoding device, 16: A / D converter, 31: Base, 32: Pointer movement Balls.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-143230 (JP, A) JP-A 5-36537 (JP, U) JP-A 62-140621 (JP, U) JP-A 2-142 119731 (JP, U) Hikaru 6-19030 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/02-3/033

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] A pointing device for pointing and selecting one point on a plane such as a display screen by moving a pointer, wherein the pointing device can be tilted in any direction on a base. and supported by an annular since the outer peripheral portion of the upper surface to support the operation by the instrument moth
A disk-shaped operation portion Id grooved, and position specifying means for moving the point by detecting the tilt amount of movement, the guide hole to support operation by the instrument is applied in the operating unit
Is, the operation section for determining the selection of the position of the pointer
Supporting a first position determining means independently of operation by the instrument and
A guide hole is provided to assist the user.
A second position determination unit independent of the operation unit for determining selection of a position of a pointer that outputs a blue click signal; and a second position determination unit provided in the operation unit and having the same function as the first position determination unit. 3 position determining means ,
The second position determination means is double-clicked even if it is held down
A pointing device configured to generate a signal only once .