JP4747289B2 - Unwired trackball system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a trackball system, and more particularly, to a trackball system that incorporates a solar battery and eliminates the need for an external power supply and wiring by wirelessly communicating with a host function such as a computer center.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A trackball system that is a coordinate input device for various digital devices such as a computer includes a trackball that is an input operation unit, a detection shaft that detects rotation of the trackball, a power source for supplying power to the system, and the track And a communication means for transmitting a signal generated by the rotation of the ball to a higher function such as a computer central part. In conventional systems, power is supplied from the outside of the trackball system, such as a computer to which the system is connected, and connection with such an external power source requires wiring with a cable of at least three cores. In addition, a current of about 10 to 100 mA is required, and accordingly, a considerable amount of power is consumed.
[0003]
Further, in the conventional system, the communication means to the upper functions such as the computer central part is made by wiring, and man-hours and process time corresponding to this are required in the manufacturing process.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to provide a trackball system that does not require an external power supply, except for the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. Another object of the present invention is to provide a trackball system that does not require wiring to higher functions such as an external power source and a computer central part.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a result of intensive studies, the inventor of the present application has found that the above problem can be solved by configuring a self-power supply using a solar cell and making the communication means wireless. That is, as means for solving the above problems, the invention claimed in the present application , or at least the disclosed invention, is as follows.
[0006]
(1) In a trackball system having a trackball, a power source for supplying power to the trackball system to be described later, and a communication means for transmitting a signal generated by the rotation of the trackball to a host function such as a computer central part. the trackball is intended to transmit light, the power supply is Rukoto is configured with a solar cell panel provided below the trackball to power generation is performed by irradiation of the light transmitted through the trackball A feature-free trackball system.
[0007]
(2) A secondary battery for storing electricity generated in the solar cell panel is provided to constitute a self-power source, and an external power source and a wiring for the external power source are unnecessary, (1) Unwired trackball system.
[0008]
(3) The non-wiring trackball system according to (1) or (2), wherein the communication means is a wireless communication means, and the electromagnetic wave used for the communication means is radio waves or infrared rays .
[0009]
According to the present invention, a solar cell is disposed inside a trackball system using a ball that transmits light, thereby providing a self-power source and eliminating the need for an external power source and wiring to the external power source. Furthermore, by transmitting the detected signal to a higher-order function such as a computer central part wirelessly using electromagnetic waves such as radio waves and infrared rays, wiring between the trackball system and the higher-order function such as a computer central part is unnecessary. To do.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a non-wiring trackball system of the present invention. In the figure, this system shows a trackball 1 that transmits light, detection axes 3A and 3B that are arranged in sliding contact with each other to detect the rotation of the trackball 1, and the light transmitted through the trackball 1. A solar cell panel 2 in which electrons and holes are generated by irradiation to generate electric power, and a circuit is formed with the solar cell panel 2, and electricity generated in the solar cell panel 2 is stored in the secondary battery 5. And a signal relating to rotation transmitted from the trackball 1 to the detection shafts 3A and 3B and detected by a sensor 6 and an arithmetic circuit 7 (both of which only a portion related to the detection shaft 3A is shown). Communication means for transmitting (S) to a higher function such as a computer central part.
[0011]
Since the non-wired trackball system of the present invention is configured as described above, if the trackball 1 is irradiated with light such as room light (L), the light transmitted through the trackball 1 is The solar cell panel 2 provided below the trackball 1 reaches the solar cell panel 2, and the solar cell panel 2 is irradiated with the reached light, generating electrons and holes therein, and generating electric power. The electricity generated in the solar cell panel 2 is stored in the secondary battery 5 by the function of the power control unit 4. Therefore, since a self-power supply is configured, it is not necessary to provide a special external power supply, and wiring for the external power supply is also unnecessary.
[0012]
Since the trackball 1 can receive an irradiation L of light such as room light when performing an input operation, the trackball system of the present invention can generate and store electricity even during operation of a computer or the like. .
[0013]
In the present invention, the trackball 1 may be formed of, for example, a transparent resin, but the present invention is not limited to this. The light transmittance of the trackball 1 only needs to be higher than the level at which power generation in the solar cell panel 2 is sufficiently performed by general indoor light transmitted through the trackball 1.
[0014]
On the other hand, the rotation of the trackball 1 is transmitted to the detection shafts 3A and 3B disposed in sliding contact therewith, and the rotation of the detection shafts 3A and 3B is detected as a pulse signal by the sensor 6 (sensor 6 (Only the part related to the detection axis 3A is shown), and the pulse signal detected by the sensor 6 is processed by the arithmetic circuit 7 (the arithmetic circuit 7 shows only the part related to the detection axis 3A) and rotates. The amount and direction of movement are signaled. The signal detected by the arithmetic circuit 7 is transmitted (S) to a higher function such as a computer central part by the communication means.
[0015]
In FIG. 1, the communication means can be wireless communication means 8. The signal processed by the arithmetic circuit 7 is transmitted (S) by the wireless communication means 8 to a higher function such as a computer central part. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide wiring for signal transmission between the trackball system and a higher-order function such as a computer central part.
[0016]
As the wireless communication means 8, for example, a wireless module based on Bluetooth specification, infrared communication, or the like can be used, and the electromagnetic wave used for the wireless communication means 8 can be radio waves or infrared rays. Is not limited to these.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
According to the trackball system of the present invention, since the power source is a solar cell, an external power source can be eliminated, and the power consumption of the system can be reduced. As a result, the power consumption of the computer or the like in which the system is incorporated can be reduced. Can be reduced. In addition, since the signal is transmitted to the host function such as the computer central part by the wireless communication means, wiring is not required, and the man-hour and the process time can be reduced in the manufacturing process.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a non-wiring trackball system of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Track ball 1, 2 ... Solar cell panel, 3A, 3B ... Detection axis, 4 ... Power supply control part, 5 ... Secondary battery, 6 ... Sensor, 7 ... Arithmetic circuit, 8 ... Wireless communication means, L ... Light Irradiation direction, S ... Signal transmission

Claims (3)

In a trackball system, comprising: a trackball; a power supply for supplying power to the trackball system to be described later; and a communication means for transmitting a signal generated by the rotation of the trackball to a host function such as a computer central part. is intended to transmit light, the power source is characterized by Rukoto is configured with a solar cell panel provided below the trackball to power generation is performed by irradiation of the light transmitted through the trackball , No wiring trackball system. The secondary battery for storing electricity generated in the solar cell panel is provided to constitute a self-power source, and an external power source and wiring for the external power source are unnecessary. Wiring trackball system. 3. The non-wired trackball system according to claim 1, wherein the communication means is a wireless communication means, and an electromagnetic wave used for the wireless communication means is a radio wave or an infrared ray .

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