JP4276493B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device that an operator holds and uses with one hand. In particular, the present invention relates to an item selection screen (selection target and display item) displayed on a display screen of a main body of a device such as a home television (TV) or a personal computer. A desired selection item (for example, processing such as storage and reproduction presented as a selection target, file name of image or music data to be reproduced, etc.) The present invention relates to a remote control input device suitable for use in selecting an item to be processed.

  Conventionally, as this type of remote control input device, a trackball and a cross key are provided on the upper surface of a casing that can be held by an operator with one hand, and the operator selectively operates the trackball and the cross key. By doing so, what is configured to select a desired menu item from the menu screen of the device body is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Here, the trackball inputs information for freely moving the cursor display position within the menu screen, and the cross key inputs information for moving the cursor display position within the sequential movement area of the menu screen. The trackball is placed at the center of the cross key for ease of use. A numeric keypad for inputting channel designation information is also provided on the upper surface of the casing.

In the remote-control input device schematically configured as described above, for example, when selecting a menu item at a position distant from the cursor display position on the menu screen, the operator moves the trackball in an arbitrary direction with his / her thumb or the like. If the rotation operation is performed, the cursor display position is freely moved according to this operation, so that the cursor position can be quickly moved to the menu item position to be selected. On the other hand, when selecting a menu item near the cursor display position, if the operator slides the cross key in either the up / down / left / right direction with the thumb of the operator, etc., the cursor position is closest to this operation. Since the menu item is sequentially moved while being constrained by the menu item, a desired menu item can be reliably selected.
JP-A-9-251350 (page 4-5, FIG. 5)

  In the conventional remote control input device described above, the operator can freely move the cursor position by, for example, rotating the trackball by appropriately operating the trackball and the cross key disposed on the casing. You can move the cursor position step by step with the adjacent menu by sliding the four-way controller or by stepping the cursor. In this way, depending on the distance of the menu item to the cursor display position, etc. There is a problem that the operability is poor because two different types of input means (trackball and cross key) must be properly used. In particular, when menu items are displayed in a small size in the menu screen, it is difficult to accurately position the cursor on the desired menu item by rotating the trackball, and this also causes a problem that operability is poor. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the actual situation of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input device capable of easily and accurately performing an item selection operation.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a casing that an operator can hold with one hand, and a first operating member that is exposed from a window hole formed in the upper surface of the casing and is slidable in a plane. A position detecting means for detecting the absolute position of the first operating member in the window hole, a second operating member disposed on the lower surface side of the casing so as to be capable of being pressed , and the second operation. and a resistance type push switch of the resistance value changes in response to the pressing operating force of member, the first operating member, one slide operably by the thumb in a state in which the casing operator grasps with one hand only is disposed, the second operating member, the casing during the operator sliding operation with the thumb of the first operating member is held by one hand, pressing operably other fingers except the thumb is only one arranged Cage, when the detection signal transmission means for transmitting a detection signal based on the detection result by the position detection means to the device body, said push switch in accordance with the pressing operation of the second operating member is turned on, the display screen The apparatus main body having an operation signal transmitting means for transmitting an operation signal for performing a zoom switching operation of the display on the display screen and a variable zoom operation is provided.

In the input device configured as described above, an operator holding the casing slides the first operation member exposed from the window hole with the thumb to select the desired item position in the item selection screen. In addition, the operator presses the second operating member disposed on the lower surface side of the casing with a finger other than the thumb, and thereby the predetermined item in the item selection screen specified by the cursor position is selected. Since the area can be enlarged and displayed, the item selection operation can be performed easily and accurately. In addition, since the push switch that is turned on by the pressing operation of the second operating member is a resistance-type push switch whose resistance value changes according to the pressing operation force (pushing amount) of the second operating member, zoom Even when the magnification is changed, it can be handled by one second operation member.

  In the above configuration, a finger hooking protrusion that extends linearly from the position directly below the window hole toward the rear end face is formed on the back surface of the casing, and the second operation member is disposed on the front end face of the finger hook protrusion. If such a configuration is adopted, the operator can reliably and independently perform the sliding operation of the first operating member with the thumb and the pressing operation of the second operating member with the index finger while the operator holds the casing with one hand. Can be done.

  In the above configuration, the first operation member has an operation button protruding from the window hole, and is provided with a pressure detection means for detecting that the operation button is pressed, and a detection signal of the pressure detection means is provided. When the selection command confirmation command signal is transmitted to the device main body, a series of operations of moving the cursor position to a desired selection item position and confirming it is blind without checking the position of the first operation member. Since it can be performed by touch, operability can be further enhanced.

In the input device according to the present invention, the operator holding the casing slides the first operation member exposed from the window hole with the thumb to move the cursor position in the item selection screen to a desired selection item position. In addition, the operator can press a second operation member disposed on the lower surface side of the casing with a finger other than the thumb to enlarge a predetermined area in the item selection screen specified by the cursor position. Since it can be displayed, the item selection operation can be performed easily and accurately. In addition, since the push switch that is turned on by the pressing operation of the second operating member is a resistance-type push switch whose resistance value changes according to the pressing operation force (pushing amount) of the second operating member, zoom Even when the magnification is changed, it can be handled by one second operation member.

  1 is a perspective view of a remote control input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the input device, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the input device, and FIG. 4 is a back view of the input device. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the input device, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a position detection mechanism provided in the input device, FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an internal mechanism of the position detection mechanism, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of first and second moving bodies provided in the position detection mechanism, FIG. 10 is a rear view of the first and second moving bodies, and FIG. 11 is provided in the input device. FIG. 12 is an external view of a menu selection device including the input device, FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a use state of the input device, FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the menu selection device, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the zoom switching operation | movement of a selection screen.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the remote control input device 1 according to this embodiment includes a synthetic resin casing 2 having a rectangular window hole 2 a on the upper surface, and a casing 2 described later. The operation button 3 of the operation member (first operation member) which is a component of the position detection mechanism is exposed from the window hole 2a.

  The casing 2 is set to a size that can be gripped by an operator's palm, and is formed in an elongated shape in plan view as a whole. However, the width dimension of the rear end face (left end in FIG. 3) is set to be shorter than the width dimension of the front end face (right end in FIG. 3) of the casing 2, and the casing 2 moves from the center toward the rear end. The taper shape becomes smaller in width. A recess 2b is formed at the substantially central portion of the upper surface of the casing 2, and the window hole 2a is formed at the inner bottom of the recess 2b. Further, a stepped finger hooking protrusion 2c is formed on the back surface of the casing 2, and the finger hooking protrusion 2c extends linearly from the rear end surface of the casing 2 to a position almost directly below the window hole 2a. The front end surface of the finger hooking projection 2c is formed in a curved surface shape, and an operation knob (second operation member) 4 for pressing a push switch described later is disposed on the curved surface portion. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the casing 2 is P, the central axis P passes through the centers of the window hole 2 a and the finger hooking projection 2 c, and the casing 2 is substantially in relation to the central axis P. It has a symmetrical shape.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the casing 2 is composed of an upper case 2A and a lower case 2B, and these two cases 2A and 2B are joined and integrated with each other using means such as snap coupling and screwing. It has become. The window hole 2a and the recess 2b are formed in the upper case 2A, and the finger hooking projection 2c is integrally formed in the lower case 2B. Further, a position detection mechanism 5 including the operation button 3 is accommodated in the casing 2, and this position detection mechanism 5 is mounted on a printed circuit board 7 together with a remote control light emitting unit 6 and a circuit unit (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, the position detection mechanism 5 includes a bottom-shaped support body 8 having an open upper surface, a cover 9 that covers the open upper end of the support body 8, the support body 8 and the cover. 9 includes a first and second movable bodies 10 and 11 disposed between 9 and an operation member 12 for driving the first and second movable bodies 10 and 11.

  The support body 8 is formed in a square shape in plan view, and a rectangular first and second fixed contact plates 13 and 14 that are paired on the inner bottom surface are disposed, and independent on each side. Four fixed contacts 15 each including a plurality of sliders are provided. Assuming XY orthogonal coordinates with the center of the inner bottom surface of the support 8 as the origin, the first and second fixed contact plates 13 and 14 are opposed to each other via an insulating gap extending in the X-axis direction. The fixed contacts 15 face each other on the X axis, and the remaining two fixed contacts 15 face each other on the Y axis. The first and second fixed contact plates 13 and 14 and each fixed contact 15 are led out to the outside of the support 8 as terminals 16, and these terminals 16 are soldered to lands (not shown) of the printed circuit board 7. Yes.

  The first and second moving bodies 10 and 11 are stacked so as to be orthogonal to each other, and the first moving body 10 is formed with a long hole 10a extending in the Y direction. A long hole 11a extending in the direction is formed. Further, sliders 10b are integrated at both ends of the first moving body 10, and the first moving body 10 can move in the X direction on the inner bottom surface of the support 8 with both sliders 10b as guide portions. . Similarly, a slider 11b is integrated at both ends of the second moving body 11, and the second moving body 11 can move in the Y direction on the inner bottom surface of the support 8 using both sliders 11b as guide portions. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 10, a resistance substrate 17 is attached to one slider 10b of the first moving body 10, and a switch substrate 18 is attached to the other slider 10b. A pair of current collecting patterns 17b are arranged in parallel on the resistance board 17 via a resistance pattern 17a, and a resistance value change corresponding to the sliding contact position between the resistance board 17 and the corresponding slider of the fixed contact 15 is provided. Is output from the terminal 16. The switch board 18 is provided with U-shaped conducting portions 18c at both ends, and a switching signal is generated by contact between the sliders of the fixed contact 15 corresponding to the switch board 18 with the conducting portion 18c. Output from terminal 16. The same resistance board 17 and switch board 18 are attached to both sliders 11b of the second moving body 11, and these resistance board 17 and switch board 18 are in contact with the fixed contacts 15 provided on the support body 8, respectively. is doing.

  The operation member 12 is disposed at the intersection of the long holes 10a and 11a of the first and second movable bodies 10 and 11, and as shown in FIG. 9, the operation member 12 includes a shaft portion 12a and a cross leg portion. 12b. The shaft portion 12a protrudes upward from the center of the cross leg portion 12b, and the aforementioned operation button 3 is press-fitted and fixed to the upper end of the shaft portion 12a (see FIG. 8). The operation button 3 is formed in a staircase shape that gradually becomes thinner toward the outside from the most projecting central portion, and is designed so that the palm of the operator's thumb is difficult to slip. The cruciform leg portion 12b is formed in a cross shape in plan view, and both end portions in the X direction are inserted into the elongated holes 11a of the second moving body 11 with the first moving body 10 sandwiched in the width direction. Both end portions of the first movable body 10 are inserted into the long holes 10a of the first movable body 10 with the second movable body 11 sandwiched in the width direction. Therefore, for example, when the shaft portion 12a of the operation member 12 is operated in the X direction, the cross leg portion 12b moves in the X direction along the elongated hole 11a of the second moving body 11, and accordingly the first moving body. 10 moves in the X direction. When the shaft portion 12a of the operation member 12 is operated in the Y direction, the cross leg portion 12b moves in the Y direction along the long hole 10a of the first moving body 10, and accordingly, the second moving body 11 is moved. Moves in the Y direction. Further, when the shaft portion 12a of the operation member 12 is operated in an oblique direction including both the X direction and the Y direction, the cross leg portion 12b is inserted into the long holes 10a and 11a of the first and second moving bodies 10 and 11. Along with this, the first and second moving bodies 10 and 11 move in an oblique direction in the XY plane.

  A rectangular upper holding plate 19 is disposed on the cross leg portion 12b of the operating member 12, and the shaft portion 12a of the operating member 12 extends upward through the upper holding plate 19 so as to be movable up and down. Further, a rectangular lower holding plate 20 is disposed below the intersecting portion of the first and second moving bodies 10 and 11, and the four corners of the upper holding plate 19 and the lower holding plate 20 are the first and second corners. The second moving bodies 10 and 11 are connected via four guide columns facing each other across the width direction. Thereby, the three members of the operation member 12, the upper holding plate 19 and the lower holding plate 20 are integrated with the first and second moving bodies 10 and 11 without causing rotation or inclination on the XY plane. Move to.

  As shown in FIG. 7, an elastic tongue piece 20a is integrally formed on each side of the lower holding plate 20, and each elastic tongue piece 20a is attached to the sliders 10b and 11b of the first and second movable bodies 10 and 11, respectively. Opposite. Thereby, the impact force when the elastic tongue piece 20a contacts the sliders 10b and 11b with the movement of the operation member 12 is relieved. Also, first and second sliding contacts 21 and 22 are attached to the lower four corners of the lower holding plate 20, and a pair of first first and second contacts regardless of the position of the lower holding plate 20 with respect to the inner bottom surface of the support 8. The sliding contact 21 is always in contact with the first fixed contact plate 19, and the pair of second sliding contacts 22 are always in contact with the second fixed contact plate 20. Furthermore, a dome-shaped movable contact 23 is placed at the center of the upper surface of the lower holding plate 20, and the top of the movable contact 23 is in elastic contact with the protrusion 12c formed on the lower surface of the cross leg 12b. The movable contact 23 is always in contact with the pattern conducting to both the second sliding contacts 22, but can be brought into contact with and separated from the pattern conducting to both the first sliding contacts 21. Is biased upward by the elasticity of the movable contact 23. Therefore, regardless of the position of the operation member 12 with respect to the inner bottom surface of the support 8, when the shaft portion 12a is pressed downward, the movable contact 23 is buckled and inverted by the pressing force, and the first and second sliding contacts 21 and 22 are brought into conduction through the movable contact 23.

  The cover 9 is integrated with the support 8 by snap coupling or the like, and a rectangular opening 9a that coincides with the window hole 2a of the casing 2 described above is formed on the upper surface thereof. The shaft portion 12a of the operation member 12 protrudes above the cover 9 through the opening 9a and the window hole 2a, and the shaft portion 12a freely moves in the XY direction within a rectangular area defined by the opening 9a. be able to. Inside the cover 9, first to third blindfold plates 24, 25, 26 and a support plate 27 are disposed so as to overlap each other. The support plate 27 is formed in a frame shape having a square hole 27a in the center, and the support plate 27 is fixed to the four corners of the support body 8 from above the first and second movable bodies 10 and 11, respectively. The sliders 10 b and 11 b are prevented from floating from the inner bottom surface of the support plate 27.

  The first to third blindfold plates 24, 25, and 26 are disposed between the cover 9 and the support plate 27, and the uppermost first blindfold plate 24 is movable only in the Y direction and has a central portion. Is formed with an elongated long hole 24a along the X direction. The intermediate second blindfold plate 25 is formed in a rectangular shape larger than the opening 9a, and a through hole 25a into which the shaft portion 12a of the operation member 12 is fitted is formed at the center. The lowermost third blindfold plate 26 can move only in the X direction, and a longitudinally long hole 26a extending in the Y direction is formed at the center thereof. The shaft portion 12a of the operation member 12 is inserted through the vertically long hole 26a, the through hole 25a, and the horizontally long hole 24a, and the second blindfold plate 25 moves integrally with the shaft portion 12a of the operation member 12 in the XY direction. However, the first blindfold plate 24 moves in the Y direction only when the shaft portion 12a contacts the long side of the laterally long hole 24a, and the third blindfold plate 26 has the shaft portion 12a that contacts the long side of the longitudinally long hole 26a. Move in the X direction only when touching. As described above, the first to third blindfold plates 24, 25, and 26 move independently of each other as the operation member 12 moves in a plane, so that the shaft portion 12a of the operation member 12 is positioned at any position within the opening 9a. Even if there is, the opening 9a is always closed by the first to third blind plates 24, 25, and 26.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, a push switch 28 that is pressed by the operation knob 4 is disposed inside the casing 2, and the push switch 28 includes a housing 30 having a resistance substrate 29, The key top 31 is placed on the housing 30. The key top 31 is made of an elastic body such as silicon rubber, and a thin skirt portion 31a is integrally formed at a lower portion thereof. Further, a conductive rubber 32 is provided on the inner bottom surface of the key top 31, and this conductive rubber 32 faces the resistance substrate 29 so as to be able to contact and separate. As shown in FIG. 11 (b), a pair of resistor layers 29a are formed on the resistor substrate 29. When the operation knob 4 is pressed and the skirt portion 31a of the key top 31 is buckled and deformed. Since the conductive rubber 32 contacts both the resistor layers 29a and 29a, the two resistor layers 29a and 29a are in a conductive state via the conductive rubber 32.

  When the item selection operation is executed using the remote-control input device 1 configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 12, the operator holds the casing 2 with the palm of one hand (for example, the right hand) and places it on the device main body 33. In this state, the operation button 3 exposed from the window hole 2a of the casing 2 is slid with the thumb to move the cursor position on the display screen 34 of the device main body 33 to a desired selection item position.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), the operator's palm abuts against a taper portion that becomes narrower sequentially from the central portion of the casing 2 toward the rear end side. The axis of the thumb can be naturally aligned with the axis P), and the thumb can be moved without difficulty in the direction intended by the operator. Further, as shown in FIG. 13 (b), the casing is placed in a state where the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger are applied to the finger-hanging protrusion 2c protruding from the back surface of the casing 2, and the index finger is hung on the curved shape of the front end of the finger-hanging protrusion 2c. 2 can be moved freely without difficulty, and the major axis direction of the casing 2 can be grasped sensuously by the extending direction of the finger hooking projection 2c. Therefore, the operator can surely perform the slide operation and push operation of the operation button 3 by the blind touch with the thumb, and can also press the operation knob 4 with the index finger while keeping the posture of the casing 2 stably. . Since the casing 2 has a symmetrical shape with respect to the central axis P, the same can be said when the operator holds the casing 2 with the left hand and uses it.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the device main body 33 includes a controller 35 formed of a microcomputer, and the controller 35 controls an item selection screen displayed on a display screen 34 formed of a CRT, an LCD, or the like. In addition, a remote control light receiving unit 36 is provided on the front surface of the device body 33, and the remote control light receiving unit 36 receives an optical command signal transmitted from the remote control light emitting unit 6 of the remote control type input device 1 and outputs it to the controller 35. Then, the controller 35 executes processing such as movement of the cursor position based on the optical command signal. On the other hand, the remote control input device 1 is provided with a position detection means 37, a pressure detection means 38, a zoom switching means 39, etc., which are transmitted as an optical command signal from the remote control light emitting section 6 and are transmitted from the remote control light receiving section 36 of the device body 33. Received at.

  Here, the position detection means 37 detects the absolute position of the operation member 12 in the opening 9a (or the window hole 2a), and the detection signal is transmitted from the remote control light emitting unit 6 as display position information of the cursor. That is, as described above, the shaft portion 12a of the operation member 12 can be operated in the XY direction within the rectangular area defined by the opening 9a. When one moving body 10 moves in the X direction, both sliders 10b of the first moving body 10 move in the X direction on the inner bottom surface of the support 8, and during this time, the resistance substrate 17 attached to one slider 10b. Slides with respect to one fixed contact 15, and the switch board 18 attached to the other slider 10 b slides with respect to another fixed contact 15. As a result, the X-coordinate position signal of the operation member 12 is detected from the fixed contact 15 that is in sliding contact with the resistance substrate 17, and the operation member 12 reaches the end position of the X coordinate from another fixed contact 15 that is in sliding contact with the switch substrate 18. An X-coordinate end signal is detected indicating that this has occurred.

  Similarly, when the operation member 12 is slid by the operation button 3 to move the second moving body 11 in the Y direction, both sliders 11b of the second moving body 11 move on the inner bottom surface of the support body 8 in the Y direction. During this time, the resistance board 17 attached to one slider 11 b slides with respect to one fixed contact 15, and the switch board 18 attached to the other slider 11 b slides with respect to another fixed contact 15. Move. As a result, the Y coordinate position signal of the operating member 12 is detected from the fixed contact 15 slidably contacting the resistance substrate 17, and the operating member 12 reaches the end position of the Y coordinate from another fixed contact 15 slidably contacting the switch substrate 18. A Y-coordinate end signal indicating that this has occurred is detected. Further, when the first and second moving bodies 10 and 11 are moved in an oblique direction in the XY plane by sliding the shaft portion 12a of the operation member 12, an X coordinate position corresponding to the operation position of the operation member 12 is obtained. A signal, a Y coordinate position signal, an X coordinate end signal, and a Y coordinate end signal are detected.

  Further, the press detection means 38 detects that the operation button 3 has been pushed, and the detection signal is transmitted from the remote control light emitting unit 6 as a selection command confirmation command signal. That is, when the operation button 3 fixed to the upper end of the shaft portion 12a of the operation member 12 is pushed down, the top portion of the movable contact 23 is pressed by the projection 12c and buckled and reversed, so the first sliding contact 21 and the second The sliding contact 22 becomes conductive through the movable contact 23. At this time, regardless of the position of the operation button 3 in the opening 9a, the first sliding contact 21 is always in contact with the first fixed contact plate 19, and the second sliding contact 22 is connected to the second fixed contact plate. 20 is always in contact (see FIG. 7), and a pressing signal indicating that the operation button 3 has been pushed is detected. When the pressing force on the operation button 3 is removed, the movable contact 23 returns to the dome shape by its own elastic force, and the operation button 3 and the operation member 12 are pushed back to the original position accordingly.

  Further, the zoom switching means 39 is constituted by a push switch 28. When the push switch 28 is turned on by a pressing operation of the operation knob 4, its detection signal is a command signal for enlarging and displaying a predetermined area specified by the cursor position. As transmitted from the remote control light emitting unit 6. That is, when the operation knob 4 is pressed, the skirt portion 31a of the key top 31 is buckled and deformed by the pressing force, and the conductive rubber 32 provided on the inner bottom surface of the key top 31 has both resistances on the resistance substrate 29. Since the body layers 29a and 29a are contacted, the push switch 28 is turned on. When the pressing force on the operation knob 4 is removed, the skirt portion 31a returns to its original shape, the push switch 28 is turned off, and accordingly, the operation knob 4 and the key top 31 are also pushed back to their original positions. .

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15A, when a normal item selection operation is performed in a state where an item selection screen including a plurality of selection items 40 and a cursor 41 is displayed on the display screen 34 of the device main body 33. In the state where the operator holds the casing 2 of the remote control input device 1 with one hand and faces the device main body 33, first, the operation button 3 of the operation member 12 is slid to the selection item 40 where the cursor 41 is desired. Moving. That is, when the operation button 3 is slid in an arbitrary direction within the opening 9a of the cover 9, as described above, the absolute position (X coordinate position signal, Y coordinate position signal, X coordinate) of the operation member 12 in the XY orthogonal coordinates. The terminal signal and the Y-coordinate terminal signal) are detected by the position detection means 37, and these detection signals are transmitted as display position information of the cursor 41 from the remote control light emitting unit 6 to the remote control light receiving unit 36 of the device main body 33. 35 controls the movement of the cursor 41 to the selection item position of TV in the item selection screen based on the display position information of the cursor 41 transmitted from the remote control input device 1.

  When the operation button 3 is pushed at the position after the cursor 41 is moved to the desired selection item 40 in this way, as described above, the first and second slides are accompanied by the buckling reversal of the movable contact 23. Since the moving contacts 21 and 22 are in a conductive state and a pressing signal indicating that the operation button 3 has been pushed is detected by the pressing detecting means 38, the detected signal is sent from the remote control light emitting unit 6 as a selection command confirmation command signal. Sent. As a result, the controller 35 selects a selection item corresponding to the display position of the cursor 41 from the item selection screen, and the item selection screen corresponding to this selection item is displayed on the display screen 34. In this case, since the selection item of the lower hierarchy corresponding to the selected selection item is displayed on the item selection screen, if the operator performs a push operation after sliding the operation button 3, the cursor 41 is moved to this item selection screen. The desired selection item can be selected by moving the button within the range.

  Further, when the operator presses the operation knob 4 with the index finger, the zoom switching means 39 detects that the push switch 28 has been turned on, so that this detection signal is used as a command signal for instructing the zoom operation. Sent from As a result, the controller 35 enlarges and displays a predetermined area specified by the cursor position, for example, a rectangular area S centered on the cursor 41 indicated by hatching in FIG. 15A as shown in FIG. . That is, when the operator feels that the selection item 40 is small and difficult to see during the normal item selection operation described above, the operator slides the operation button 3 with the thumb and moves the cursor 41 to the vicinity of the desired selection item 40. By pressing the operation knob 4 with the index finger, the area including the selection item 40 can be enlarged and displayed. Therefore, when the operator slides the operation button 3 on the item selection screen enlarged and displayed in this manner, the cursor 41 can be easily and accurately moved to the desired selection item 40. When the operation knob 4 is pressed again while the item selection screen is enlarged, the controller 35 performs a zoom-out operation for returning to the normal screen based on a command signal detected from the zoom switching means 39. Alternatively, the item selection screen is enlarged only when the operation knob 4 is pressed and the push switch 28 is turned on, and when the push switch 28 is turned off when the operation knob 4 is released and the push switch 28 is turned off. You may make it return to a screen.

  As described above, in the remote control input device 1 according to the present embodiment, the operator holding the casing 2 slides the operation button 3 of the operation member 12 exposed from the window hole 2a with the thumb, so that the item selection screen is displayed. The cursor 41 can be moved to the desired selection item 40, and when the operator presses the operation knob 4 with the index finger, a predetermined area in the item selection screen specified by the cursor 41 is enlarged and displayed. Therefore, the item selection operation can be performed easily and accurately. Further, since a finger hooking protrusion 2c extending linearly from a position almost directly below the window hole 2a toward the rear end face is formed on the back surface of the casing 2, and the front end face of the finger hooking protrusion 2c has a curved shape, the operator can When the casing 2 is held with one hand, the index finger can be hung in a natural manner on the front end surface of the finger-hanging projection 2c. Since the operation knob 4 is disposed on the front end surface of the finger-hanging projection 2c, the operator can hold the casing 2 with one hand and slide the operation button 3 with the thumb and press the operation knob 4 with the index finger. Can be performed independently and reliably.

  Further, as the zoom switching means 39, a resistance type push switch 28 is used in which the conductive rubber 32 is brought into contact with the pair of resistor layers 29a, 29a. Therefore, the detection signal of the push switch 28 is merely used as an enlarged display command signal. In addition, it can be used as a command signal for variable zoom. That is, since the resistance value between the resistor layers 29a and 29a can be changed by the difference in the amount of pressing of the operation knob 4, for example, when the operation knob 4 is pressed more strongly than the zoom magnification when the operation knob 4 is lightly pressed. The zoom magnification can be increased.

  Further, a pressing detection means 38 for detecting that the operation button 3 of the operating member 12 has been pushed is provided, and the detection signal of the pressing detection means 38 is transmitted from the remote control input device 1 as an item selection confirmation command signal. Therefore, a series of operations of moving the cursor 41 to a desired selection item position and confirming it can be performed by blind touch without bothering to confirm the position of the operation button 3, and the above-described item selection screen can be enlarged. The operability can be further enhanced in combination with the display function.

  In the above embodiment, the position detecting means 37 for detecting the absolute position in the opening 9a of the operation member 12 is composed of a plurality of fixed contacts 15, a resistance substrate 17 and a switch substrate 18 that are in sliding contact with them. Although the contact type has been described, non-contact (optical or magnetic) position detection means may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the X coordinate end signal and the Y coordinate end signal are detected using the pair of switch boards 18 has been described. However, the X coordinate position signal Y and the coordinate position obtained from the pair of resistance boards 17 are described. It is also possible to detect the X-coordinate end signal and the Y-coordinate end signal based on the signal, and in this case, both switch boards 18 can be omitted.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the rectangular area S centered on the cursor 41 is enlarged when the push knob 28 is turned on by pressing the operation knob 4 has been described. Only the selection item 40 located at the position may be displayed in an enlarged manner. In short, a predetermined area specified by the cursor position may be enlarged and displayed.

  In the above embodiment, the push switch 28 is exemplified as the zoom switching means 39. However, it is detected that the operation knob 4 is pressed using another means such as an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor. You may make it do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the remote control input device 1 used for selecting a desired selection item from the item selection screen displayed on the device main body 33 has been described. The present invention is also applicable to an input device such as a portable data terminal including a display unit and an input unit as an input device, such as another input device integrated with the apparatus main body instead of the remote control type. is there.

It is a perspective view of a remote control type input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of this input device. It is a top view of the input device. It is a back view of the input device. It is a disassembled perspective view of this input device. It is a disassembled perspective view of the position detection mechanism with which this input device is equipped. It is a top view which shows the internal mechanism of this position detection mechanism. It is sectional drawing of this position detection mechanism. It is a perspective view of the 1st and 2nd moving body with which this position detection mechanism is equipped. It is a rear view of the first and second moving bodies. It is explanatory drawing of the push switch with which this input device is equipped. It is an external view of the menu selection apparatus containing this input device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the use condition of this input device. It is a block diagram of the menu selection device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the zoom switching operation | movement of an item selection screen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Remote control input device 2 Casing 2a Window hole 2c Finger hooking protrusion 3 Operation button 4 Operation knob (2nd operation member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Position detection mechanism 6 Remote control light emission part 8 Support body 9 Cover 9a Opening 10 1st moving body 11 2nd moving body 10a, 11a Long hole 12 Operation member (1st operation member)
12a Shaft 12b Cross leg 17 Resistance board 18 Switch board 23 Movable contact 28 Push switch 33 Device body 34 Display screen 35 Controller 36 Remote control light receiving part 37 Position detection means 38 Press detection means 39 Zoom switching means 40 Selection item 41 Cursor

Claims (3)

A casing that can be held by an operator with one hand, a first operating member that is exposed from a window hole formed on the upper surface of the casing and is slidable in a plane, and the first operating member in the window hole The position detection means for detecting the absolute position, the second operating member disposed on the lower surface side of the casing so as to be capable of pressing operation, and the resistance value changes according to the pressing operation force of the second operating member. With a resistive push switch ,
The first operating member is disposed only one so that the casing can be slid with the thumb in a state where the operator holds the casing with one hand.
Only one second operation member is arranged so that the operator can hold the casing with one hand and press the first operation member with a finger other than the thumb while the first operation member is being slid with the thumb. And
A detection signal transmission means for transmitting a detection signal based on a detection result by the position detection means to the device body;
When the push switch is turned on in accordance with the pressing operation of the second operation member, an operation for causing the device main body having a display screen to perform a zoom switching operation and a variable zoom operation on the display screen. An input device comprising an operation signal transmitting means for transmitting a signal.   2. The finger operating projection that extends linearly from a position almost directly below the window hole toward the rear end surface is formed on the rear surface of the casing according to claim 1, and the second operation member is formed on a front end surface of the finger mounting projection. An input device characterized by comprising:   3. The pressure detection means according to claim 1, wherein the first operation member has an operation button protruding from the window hole, and is provided with a pressure detection means for detecting that the operation button is pressed. The input device is characterized in that the detection signal is transmitted as a selection command confirmation command signal to the device body.

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